Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 35, Number 8, 1 ʻAukake 2018 — OHA testifies on Moloka'i Community Plan [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA testifies on Moloka'i Community Plan

LEO ELELE TRUSTEE MESSSAGES

Editor's note: In accordance with an Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board ofTrustees policy based on state ethics guidelines, any trustee runningfor re-election is suspended from publishing his or her regular eolumn until the elections are complete, exceptfor those trustees running unopposed.

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HA Administration subymitted testimony to the

IMaui County " Council Planning Committee

in support of advancing

the Moloka'i Community Plan Update draft to puhlie hearing, and supporting the continued inclusion of the East End Policy Statement, West End Policy Statement, and provisions recognizing the importance of eommuni-ty-based subsistence fishing areas to the subsistence lifestyle of Moloka'i. Excerpts from OHA's testimony: "OHA greatly appreciates

the countless hours of eleāicated workput into the development of the current Plan draft, and eommeneh the Planning Department, the Moloka 'i Community Plan Advisory Committee (CPAC), the Moloka'i Planning Commission, and the people of Moloka 'i for their efforts in deve!oping the Plan over the last three years. OHAfurther appreciates the Plan's acknowledgement ofthe importance of maintaining Moloka'i's unique rural character, and of the need to protect the island's natural resources, cultural resources, subsistence opportunities, open spaces, fishponds, and agricultural lcmds and activities. As a comprehensive reflection ofthe neecls and desires ofthe eommunities of Moloka'i, OHA believes that the Plan will serve as an invaluable guicle to future policies, decisions, and actions that ean best suit the islancl and its residents. reflected in OHA 's previous testimony on the Plan, OHA particularly supports the Plan's continuecl inelusion ofthe East End Policy Statement in its entirety. OHA emphasizes the continuing importance ofthe East End Policy Statement to the people of Ecist Moloka 'i, as a detailed and long-stand-ing vision for their plaee. Originally established in 1981, the East Enel Policy Statement represents the eulminahon of a broacl-basecl, community-driven ejfort to document the Mana'e community's visionfor itsfuture. The statement was developed over a number of yecirs, with extensive inputfrom the majority of area residents, including respected kūpuna who have since pcissed on. In

the words ofthe Statement, the mana 'o ofthese kupuna eonūnue to serve as a

guidefor the next generation. OHA notes that the enduring relevance anel significance ofthe East End Policy State-

ment to the communities of Mana 'e and East Moloka 'i are well-evidenced in the many testimonies provided to tlie CPAC, the Moloka'i Planning Commission, anel to the Planning Committee itself. Similarly, OHA furtlier supports and urges tlie Plan's continued inclusion ofthe West End Policy Statement in its entirety. OHA understands tliat tlie West Enel Policy Statement was

developed through numerous meetings and countless hours of research, reflection, and discussion by Maunaloa and Kaluako 'i resiclents over tlie past two years, and as such captures the highly unique cliaracter, needs, challenges, and desires of the people of West Moloka 'i. Like tlie East End PoIicy Statement, the vision, information, and recommendations in the West End Policy Statement will serve as an invaluable and detailed guide to future policies and actions that ean best reflect the mana 'o of those most intimately familiar with West Moloka'i's unique resources, sites, and ways oflife. OHA especially appreciates the Statement's high level of specificity and abundance of contextual information, wliieh may prove essential to fully-informed anel appropriate decision making for the future ofWest Moloka 'i. Finally, OHA supports and urges the Plan 's continued support of eommunity- basecl subsistence fishing areas ( CBSFAs ) as a key means ofprotecting and perpetuating tlie critically important subsistence resources and practices ofMoloka 'i communities, including the Mo 'omomi CBSFA management plan and rules that have been approved for public hearing by the Boarcl of Lanel and Natural Resources." Moloka'i, your OHA meetings are this month. The Community Meeting will be Wednesday, August 8. The Board of Trustees Meeting will be Thursday, August 9. Both meetings will be at the Kūlana 'Ōiwi Hālau. Look forward to seeing you there! ■

Culette Y. Machado Chsir, TrustEE Mulūka'i ard Lāna'i