Grantham rebuts County concerns on Peahi acquisition

Regarding County purchase of land for open space on
Hamakualoa coast – aka Puniawa to Peahi
The county’s concerns over liability in such a large public area can be resolved through transfer of ownership to a nonprofit corporation, while the County retains a conservation easement to make sure the land remains dedicated to the purposes for which it was purchased.
The HILT land trust has offered support and technical assistance for purchase of this land and would likely be willing to hold the easement if the county did not want to. A nonprofit landowner would probably qualify for protection under the state’s open space laws. The nonprofit would also carry liability insurance anyway.
Regarding infrastructure, there are already quite a few roads from plantation days that can be maintained.
This is a rainy area and catchment water supplies are common. Catchment for agriculture is also practical. Solar panels and windmills are successfully providing power along the North Shore, and newer batteries offer reliable, safer storage.
Cell phones and satellite dishes already provide communication, internet and television services. Wi-Fi networks are practical within the area.
And there is existing municipal power and water infrastructure not very far away.
Great economic, cultural and recreational potential exists for these lands. Activity at Twin Falls indicates tremendous unmet need for natural recreational areas for residents and visitors alike. Hamakualoa lands could easily provide safe and scenic bike trails for both residents and visitors. A bus stop would offer easy hiking and strolling options.
Hamakualoa, sometimes called the “Heart of Haiku”, could provide centers for Hawaiian culture and history, including plantation history. There are over 100 recorded cultural sites here, including two heiau on these lands.
The lands could provide a center for community agriculture in Haiku, with research on self-sufficiency and new markets, while growing food that can be distributed in the community.
They can provide a needed example of how large public lands can generate income for their own management and maintenance. Some ways to do this, in which people with business or activity experience have already indicated interest, are:
• The existing annual Peahi/Jaws international surf competition.
• A green cemetery.
• A North Shore Biathalon annual signature event.
• Income from farm leases.

Rally to buy Hamakua Coast lands as open space!

Rally to Protect hundreds of acres of Hamakua Coast lands as open space!

Tuesday, Oct 13th
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Hana Hwy in front of Ha’iku Community Center
Wear green, bring signs, banners, etc.

Rally immediately followed by “Legislators Listen” event State House of Representative leaders come to Ha’iku to listen to needs of local residents, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm at Ha’iku Community Center

Please join us to ask our House leaders and our District 13 Rep Lynn De Coite to put funds in the state budget to buy the 277 acre Oili Rd lot (where the Peahi Big Wave contest is viewed)
using Legacy Lands Funds or other available funding.
Cost: $4.8 million.

See Facebook Event.

Annual Meeting – North Shore Park?

Annual Meeting

Feb 4 11am Kaunoa Senior Center in Pa’ia

Potluck, Panel on the Northshore Park.

EVENT DATE: sat feb 4th 11am Kaunoa Center— please forward!!

 Some of Maui’s unsung heros will be honored this Saturday February 4th at the Sierra Club Maui Annual meeting at Kaunoa center in Spreckelsville. UH Maui Biology professor Ann “Frannie” Coppersmith, state biologist Dr. Fern Duvall and environmental advocate Irene Bowie, executive director of Maui Tomorrow Foundation will all receive recognition as 2012 ‘Onipa’a awardees for their longstanding work to educate and advocate for Maui’s natural resources.

Cheryl King, biologist and researcher for Hawaii Wildlife Fund’s Hawksbill Sea Turtle Recovery Project will be presented with the Malama Kahakai  award for outstanding marine conservation work and John and Rose Marie Duey, taro farmers who spearhead the outstanding restoration work at the Olowalu Cultural Reserve will receive the Malama o Ka Aina award for their dedication to restoration of cultural practices and native plants.  Community activist and gourmet chef Angie Hoffman will receive the Volunteer of the Year award.

The fun starts at 11 am with awards at 11:30 and followed by a delicious lunch donated by Mana Foods and a lively panel discussion on planning the future of Maui’s North Shore. All are welcome.

North Shore Beach Cleanup Sunday Oct 16

North Shore Town Clean-Up!
Surfrider Foundation
in partnership with
Maui Sierra Club, Maui Tomorrow, Positive H2o & Community Work Day

present the

Annual Town Clean-Up at Baldwin Beach Park
Sunday, October 16 • 9 am -1 pm
Check in by Paia Bay Park 8 am

Come malama ka aina at Baldwin Beach, Paia Bay and other north shore locations.

Last year’s clean up event brought together over 1,200 volunteers that collected 30,000 pounds of litter and marine debris, 1,800 plastic bags, 2,150 recyclable beverage containers, and 7,600 cigarette butts in Maui Nui alone. Come help be one of those volunteers to give back to our Maui’s shorelines and home towns. Join volunteers from Surfrider Foundation, Positive H20, Sierra Club Maui, Maui Tomorrow, Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund and Community Work Day.
Contact: Community Work Day Program
Phone: (808) 877-2524
or Luciene de Naie Laluz@maui.net
for cleanup questions.
To get involved with Surfrider, email the Maui Chapter at: maui@surfrider.org
All supplies provided by Community Work day, Surfrider Foundation and Positive H2O.