Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 26, Number 3, 1 March 2009 — Kaʻena Point [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kaʻena Point

On lan. 13 OHA's Beneficiary Advocacy and Empowennent Committee held a workshop at the YMCA's Camp Erdman to gatherinfonnation about the Ka'ena Point Natural Area Reserve and the Ka'ena Point State Park Reserve. There are many issues surrounding Ka'ena Point and ah of them are compHcated and require creativity

and sensitivity from the State as land managers and the puhhe as stakeholders. As one of the last wilderness coastlines on O'ahu, Ka'ena is cherished by many people, including our beneficiaries, who enjoy a wide range of recreational, subsistence and cultural activities in the area. Increased use over the past decade has placed an incredible amount of pressure on the treasured resources of Ka'ena. The area's native eeosystems are struggling to survive. Conununity members who attended our workshop were there for many reasons: overnight fishing, lower road access, burials, the predator fence, and the Hst goes on. One of the more puhlie issues is the ban on camping. Since 2002, camping has been prohibited in the area and loeal fishennen have had difficulty

with the changes and how they affect legitimate ovemight activities. Committee members in attendance were given an overview of the Department of Land and Natural Resource's Ka'ena Point Oeean Resources Management Plan. It is clear that Ka'ena faces preservation, management and enforcement issues steimning from trash dumping, drinking, drugs, parties and fights that occur or have occurred in the area. Trustees were introduced to a proposed plan for the establishment of a committee consisting of the many different Ka'ena interest groups. This committee would help develop a plan to manage Ka'ena, examining possible solutions to issues regarding camping, fishing, access and the protection of natural and

cultural resources, as weU as Native Hawaiian traditional and customary rights. After the infonnational workshop, trustees and staff were shuttled to the Natural Area Reserve. The habitat within the 78-acre Natural Area Reserve is very distinguishable from the mile or so preceding it. The Reserve has heeome a major seabird-nesting site and native vegetation has been restored. Park caretakers noted daily monk seal visits within the protected area. Issues within the Reserve involve the installation of a proposed predatory fence meant to keep rat, mongoose, cat and dog populations from threatening the nesting seabird populahon. Our ride to the Reserve, while still in See MACHAD0 on pags 28

Cūlette Y. Machadū TrustEE, Mūlūka'i aud Lāna'i

MACHADO Cūntinued fram page 2G

the State Park area, took us 30 minutes to cover roughly a mile and a half. It was evident by the condition of the road that fourwheel drive enthusiasts are one

of the biggest threats to Ka'ena. Deep crevices made by truck tires were eolleehon pools for rain water. This is a major eoneein for the potential unearthing of native burials and erosion that could impact the reef system. State lawmakers have been introduced to several bills relating to Ka'ena Point this legislative session. HB 645 HD1 aims to create a pilot program to issue annual passes to Hawai'i residents to fish overnight at Ka'ena Point State Park Reserve. The hill originally called for the removal of all camping restrictions for the Ka'ena Point State Paik, but it was amended to include the pilot project to see whether overnight camping would be better or worse for Ka'ena State Park. OHA submitted testimony asking for amendments that included a more comprehensive management plan for Ka'ena, whieh would provide for regulated camping. The issues facing Ka'ena Point are comphcated and numerous, and while many are leery of the state after having fought for so long with it over Ka'ena, plans for current and future preservation and management is a promising step in the right direction. S