Group News: Hawaiʻi Island, Maui and Oʻahu
Hawaiʻi Island Group
Nomination of Dawn Chang to the BLNR
by Debbie Ward, Hawaiʻi Island Group Executive Committee Member | Reading time: 3 minutes
Governor Josh Green recently nominated Dawn Chang to be chair of the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and its board (BLNR). Many Sierra Club members are concerned that the nomination represents a threat to the protection of the natural and cultural environment, and to the rights of Native Hawaiian practitioners. Members are urged to share their concerns with Governor Green, and with their senators at the legislature early in January, where the nomination will be approved or denied.
While Ms. Chang has been involved in a wide range of relevant areas, an examination of her record discloses a bias that disqualifies her from holding the position. Ms. Chang’s career and that of her company, Kuʻiwalu, is repeatedly characterized by decisions that ignore the mandates of history to facilitate the colonial mindset of facilitating economic exploitation, rather than acting as a protector of Hawaiʻi’s future.
Ms. Chang has been professionally involved in some of Hawaiʻi’s most controversial and divisive actions, including burials at Kawaihaʻo Church, the Honolulu rail project, Mauna Kea management, the Homeland Defense Radar project and more. Her list of corporate clients, and the dubious legal advice she gave them, is the manifestation of her true professional commitments.
David Kimo Frankel, a former Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation attorney who has recently represented the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi, noted that Chang advised the Kawaiahaʻo Church to avoid a more thorough archaeological review by DLNR’s State Historic Preservation Division when burials were unearthed to make way for a multipurpose building project that was later abandoned. “The result of her advice was protracted litigation and the disturbance of hundreds of burials,” Frankel said in an email. “We don’t need a fox guarding the hen house.”
In 2003, the Sierra Club was a petitioner in a case regarding the University of Hawaiʻi’s Conservation District Use Application for the W. M. Keck Outrigger telescope project funded by NASA. Subsequent to the hearing on appeal, Third Circuit Court Judge Hara ruled in 2006 that before further development could occur on Mauna Kea a management plan for multiple uses in the Conservation District was required. Ms. Chang prepared a wholly inadequate plan for managing Mauna Kea that lacked basic provisions for natural and cultural management, decommissioning, and public access. BLNR determined that the plan was deficient, and insisted on compliance with the law lacking in Ms. Chang’s plan. The delay in approving the missing critical pieces of the plan led to delays in the Conservation District Use Permit Application for the TMT construction, and the process by which it was drafted and approved undermined the public's trust in BLNR and the University of Hawaiʻi.
The Department of Land and Natural Resources, headed by an executive Board of Land and Natural Resources, is responsible for managing, administering, and exercising control over public lands, water resources, ocean waters, navigable streams, coastal areas (except commercial harbors), minerals, and all interests therein. The department’s jurisdiction encompasses nearly 1.3 million acres of state lands, beaches, and coastal waters as well as 750 miles of coastline (the fourth longest in the country). It includes state parks; historical sites; forests and forest reserves; aquatic life and its sanctuaries; public fishing areas; boating, ocean recreation, and coastal programs; wildlife and its sanctuaries; game management areas; public hunting areas; and natural area reserves.
Given the kuleana and tremendous responsibility of the DLNR, the selection of a chair should be guided by the highest principles. There is ample evidence that the selection of Ms. Chang does not demonstrate an adherence to that fundamental requirement.
For a detailed background on these issues, visit the Hawaiʻi Island Group’s webpage here.
Upcoming outings
Saturday, January 21, 2023
Keauhou Kaʻu Three Mountain Alliance Service (C/S/E)
2.5 miles round trip, elevation gain +/- 200'
Three Mountain Alliance sponsors forest restoration days on Kamehameha School's Keauhou ranch located near the Volcano Winery. Once ranch land, the property is now home to the Volcano Bird Conservation Facility which houses endangered native birds like the ʻalalā which was released a few years ago in neighboring Natural Area Reserve Puʻumakala. Restoration efforts in this way will be vital to restoring forest connectivity between the national park and Puʻumakala. We will be hiking round trip 2.5 miles to the planting site. Bring sturdy work shoes and clothes, warm/rain layers, food and water.
Leaders: Diane Ware, 808-967-8642 and Linda Larish, 808-657-9640. Three Mountain Alliance requires sign up and waivers by January 6. Call for details.
Maui Group
Sign the Petition for a Better Water Use and Development Plan
by Tara Apo, Streams Organizer | Reading time: 3.5 minutes
On Tuesday, January 17, 2023, the Commission on Water Resource Management is expected to decide on the approval of the Maui Island Water Use and Development Plan (MIWUDP), which will be as used a blueprint for all uses of water on Maui for the next 20-years and sets the trajectory for our future water conservation, development and tourism growth. This plan is NOT ready for approval yet.
Ask the water commission to hire a professional consultant to revise and update the plan using accurate and current data, realistic projections, and create a plan that is accessible to the public and reflective of responsible water conservation and development goals. We cannot afford to mismanage our most precious resource!
WHY ISN’T THIS PLAN READY FOR APPROVAL YET?
People can’t understand what the water plan says
It’s 1,200 plus pages and filled with confusing charts, lots of jargon, and old data.
We need a professional consultant to make the plan useful and update the numbers
Maui’s Water Department worked hard on this plan, but it’s not really in their job description – the water commission should ask the county to hire a professional consultant to streamline it, make the plan clear, and update the data – as all the other islands have done.
The plan is missing any reference to the Community Water Authorities or recent water designations
The charter amendment for the Maui County Community Water Authorities, passed in Novemberʻs general election, which will be a big part of future water strategies for all parts of Maui. The WUDP also does not include the recent designation of the Lahaina Aquifer Sector as a Surface Water and Ground Water Management Area.
The plan needs to aim for larger water conservation goals
The current goal is to reduce water consumption by 8% on Maui island over the 20 year life of the WUDP. With increased periods of drought and less rainfall predicted for many areas, water conservation goals need to aim higher.
We need a WUDP with real solutions for the Upcountry meter list - it’s been 20 years!
The Upcountry meter list section of the WUDP uses old numbers and doesn’t provide any real breakdowns of water demand or specific solutions. The current Upcountry list is 1,428 – the WUDP still says there are 1,800 requests and that 7 million gallons of water a day is needed. The WUDP “solution” language says, “Assess alternative options to restructure and process the existing Upcountry Meter Priority List....” Why hasn’t this been done over the last decade? We need accurate numbers and clear path forward.
The WUDP needs to re-examine water “demand” numbers – the plan uses old data and times have changed
The WUDP uses old data, even where newer numbers are available. This boosts estimated water needs, but the numbers may be inaccurate. The plan does not take into account recent numbers which show less water available in East Maui streams. We need a plan with the best data available in the face of the uncertainties posed by climate change.
The Haʻikū aquifer is the main source for new county water wells - but the WUDP ignores Haʻikū - Pāʻia community plan.
Haʻikū wells are the county’s main solution for providing 8 mgd of water to South Maui, but the plan does not acknowledge how very little is known about the aquifer and its specific capacity and depth. There is no clear plan “B.”
Haʻikū residents have had NO access to new county water meters for 20 + years and must catch rainwater or drill expensive wells. Haʻikū’s community plan asks that the water needs of the community be met before water is transported elsewhere. County staff refused to include Haʻikū - Pāʻia community plan language in WUDP strategies.
West Maui water demand projections seem inflated
Will West Maui population really increase 64% to 40,000 as the WUDP theorizes, boosting water demand from 9.4 mgd today to 15.7 mgd in 15 years? Is this sustainable, given the area’s already stressed aquifers and drying streams?
The WUDP estimates that hotels and luxury resort condos will add many more rooms and will need an additional 2 mgd from private water systems over the next 15 years. Our county council has proposed limiting new resort units in West Maui to what exists now. Should the WUDP use this outmoded Lahaina demand for resort/business water needs if few new visitor units are planned?
Will there be enough water for homes that existing Lahaina families can afford? Does the WUDP figure in the existing Lahaina residents who need homes, who are not “new” population?
There are many more concerns – Our Water Use and Development Plan needs to reflect the realities of our current times and show a clear, responsible pathway ahead.
Upcoming Outings
Sunday January 15, 2023
Makawao Forest Reserve – Kahakapao Loop (E)
Upper Olinda, 7 miles
Moderate hike in big tree forest on undulating trail, estimated time 3-4 hours. Meet in parking lot across from St. Joseph’s Church on Makawao Avenue at 8am. We will caravan to the trailhead. Limit 15.
Leader: Annie Schultz, acm_schultz@hotmail.com or 734-308-0482
Sign up
Friday January 20, 2023
‘Āhihi Kīnaʻu to Anchialine Pools (C/E)
South Maui, 3 miles, moderate
Rare access to this protected area across the lava field, led by Jeff Bagshaw, Volunteer Coordinator of the DLNR for ‘Āhihi Kīnaʻu. Jeff has a wealth of knowledge about the plant and animal life of this sensitive region. Meet at 8am at the Kanahena (“Dumps”) parking lot. Bring water, sun protection (reef-safe), and footwear with toe protection and strong soles. Limit 15. Leader: Rob Weltman, robw@worldspot.com
Sign up
Sunday January 22, 2023
Lahaina Pali Trail (C/E)
West Maui, 4 miles
Strenuous, with steep uphill. Enjoy the views and whale watch. Hike from Lahaina end trailhead, up to windmills and back the same way. Sturdy boots, sun screen, and hat are recommended. A hiking stick is useful. Bring lots of water. Meet at 8am at Maui Ocean Center parking by the gas station. Limit 18.
Leader: Rob Weltman, robw@worldspot.com
Sign up
Saturday January 28, 2023
Hāmākua Mālama Service Outing (C/E/S)
Ha‘ikū (Kaupakulua Ahupuaʻa), 2 miles
Help clear away abandoned rubbish from gulches in Ha‘ikū’s Hāmākua Coastal Preserve and re-plant native species. Tools, snacks, trash bags, etc will be provided.
Co-sponsored by Mālama Hāmākua
Leader: Lucienne de Naie, huelogrl@icloud.com
Sign up
Sunday January 29, 2023
Kanaio Stupa (C/E)
Kanaio, 4 miles
Some steep grades. Hike up the south slope of Haleakalā to a beautiful shrine built in 1982 and view of south coast. Meet at 9am at the ʻUlupalakua Ranch Store (upper Kula). Bring lunch, water and rain gear. Limit 18.
Leader: Rob Weltman, robw@worldspot.com
Sign up
Monday January 30, 2023
Māʻalaea Petroglyphs (C/E)
South Maui, 2 miles
Explore one of Maui’s largest selections of petroglyphs (stone carvings) in this morning excursion and learn about Māʻalaea’s long history as a crossroads between west, south and central Maui.
Leader: Lucienne de Naie, huelogrl@icloud.com with co-leader Ann Wallace
Sign up
Oʻahu Group
Wāwāmalu Beach Is Unfinished-Conservation Business
by Reese Liggett, Outings Leader | Reading time: 3.5 minutes
In 2016, a Sierra Club activist asked Tommy Waters, then candidate for Honolulu City Council District 4 (Hawaiʻi Kai to Ala Moana), for his support to protect the natural features of Wāwāmalu Beach. Wāwāmalu Beach is a natural coastal a section of Sandy Beach Park between Sandy’s and the Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline that had been the subject of off-roader vehicle depredation and endangerment of ancient burials and wildlife for decades.
After two very close losses (44 and 22 votes) for the council seat, Tommy Waters won a runoff election in late winter ‘19 by over a thousand votes and proceeded to put money in the ’21 city budget for a boulder barrier that City Parks and Recreation Department began installing in January ’21—yellow line in photo below. (Note, actual cost turned out to be quite low since the State Parks Division offered boulders for free from the enormous cache of boulders that Henry J. Kaiser had placed opposite the Hawaiʻi Kai Golf Course as a result of his East Honolulu developments in the ‘50s--back before it became state land.) However, the state’s Department of Transportation (DOT) refused to install a guardrail along the highway perimeter of Wāwāmalu Beach (red line in this overhead visual).
Depicting Wāwāmalu Beach and its planned boulder barrier in yellow and desired but denied guardrail in red.
Because of state’s failure, the city followed up with a highway perimeter barrier composed of more boulders and vegetation that included hundreds-of-years-old stands of native plants, principally naupaka, famous for its half flower and accompanying folk legend—yet too easily crunched by off-roader crash-throughs. And the city parks left a steep-banked section northeast of the traffic light completely unprotected (said it was too dangerous to trespassing off-roaders)—and off-roaders seemingly love the opportunity to prove that steepness is no barrier.
Destroyed ancient naupaka after off-roader crash through.
Steep-bank is no barricade.
So…the unfinished-conservation business is the too vulnerable, perimeter barrier along the highway that is there due to the state Department of Transportation’s refusal to protect Wāwāmalu Beach with guardrails.
Mayor Rick Blangiardi presided over a traditional Hawaiian blessing of the recovering natural area of this city’s public- park land in January 2022.
The greater effect has been a huge reduction of motor-vehicular traffic on Wāwāmalu Beach’s natural features, which are dunes-with-native-vegetation, white-sand beach, and some of the youngest volcanic rocks on Oʻahu. The most prominent rock formation at the water’s edge is Nā Waʻa a Pele (the canoes of Pele). Just the absence of most off-roaders has allowed the natural creep of vegetation to spread over barren regions and between dunes. The Sierra Club Oʻahu Group sponsors conservation-service days on the third Sunday of each month since October ’22. The next one is January 15—see the Oʻahu Group Outing Schedule and be part of this rejuvenation project. Unfortunately, the state’s DOT refusals for guardrail afford too-easy vulnerability of this recovering natural ecosystem.
Now, here’s more about the unfinished-conservation business—the state Department of Transportation proudly proclaims a 6.8-mile stretch of Kalanianaʻole Highway that wraps around the eastern tip of Oʻahu between the communities of Maunalua (Hawai‘i Kai) and Waimānalo. Natural sites like Wāwāmalu Beach are key pieces of any scenic byway and Wāwāmalu Beach’s almost-four-acres is the scenic, natural jewel of this state scenic byway. Yet, DOT has refused every suggestion or entreaty that it should protect with about 2,000 feet of guardrail the natural features of Wāwāmalu Beach and its native animals (endangered monk seals and uncounted others), that are the jewel of this, the only…STATE…scenic byway on Oʻahu, with about 2,000 feet of guardrail.
Off-roader tracks.
More tracks.
Smashed/mangled native plants—in this case, naupaka!
Three entries by off-roaders have been forced in the last weeks of December ’22. The two pictured above and this—where an off-roader pulled a boulder back about 20 feet, exposing an entry point:
Boulder pulled out where guardrail needed—off-roader, barrier gap exposed.
Honolulu Police Department is the only enforcer in the case of city park off-roading. Chapter 10 of the Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes covers such infractions at city parks. But HPD needs to be alerted through 911 calls to know when any motorized trespassing is happening so that police can be dispatched and a history established that will sensitize HPD to off-road infraction occurrences. Please, make the call!!!!!! Better yet write the governor and your legislators about the need for a guardrail at Wāwāmalu Beach and help with this unfinished-conservation business.
Oʻahu Group Outings
Sunday, January 15, 2022
Wāwāmalu Beach Service Project
Help return Wāwāmalu Beach to its native/natural status after years of off-road abuse and inattention. Seed collection and sowing, as well as removal of invasive plants on tap. Personal pickaxes welcome. Bring closed-toe shoes/boots, gardening gloves, sunscreen and water flask (iced refill available, no plastic water available). Meet 9am at western access area just left off eastern driveway for Sandy Beach Park.
Contact Reese Liggett, reservations appreciated, wliggett@twc.com, or just show up.
Co-leader, Suzan Harada