Ka‘ū News Briefs, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022

The coastlines of Waikapuna "are an intricate network of native flora and fauna, to be protected and cherished by our 

community," says the non-profit stewardship group Ala Kahakai Trail Association. Public input on the 

Waikapuna Resource Management Plan for this area along the Kaʻū Coast is welcomed. Photo from ATA

WAIKAPUNA RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN materials are online for folks who want to help determine the future stewardship for the 2,317 acres in the ahupua'a of Kahilipalinui and Kalihipali'iki. The planning resources include meeting notes, a slideshow and recording of an online gathering that was held Jan. 26 to explain the process of developing a Resource Management Plan and to receive public input.
    The lands include a section of the Kaʻū Coast toward South Point from Honu'apo, makai of Nāʻālehu. The land was recently preserved with county, state and private donations through a purchase that puts it under the ownership of Ala Kahakai Trail Association with a conservation easement owned by Hawai'i County that protects it from development. The process of acquiring the land was facilitated by The Trust for Public Land.
    Gabrielle Sham, representing Townscape, a small community and environmental planning firm, was hired to help develop the Management Plan, noting some of the history of Waikapuna. She said that "Waikapuna has been subject to the threat of development, especially after the closure of the plantation. There were proposed plans for a spaceport in this area in the late 1980s. Several years later, there were proposed plans for a commuter airport facility. The most recent proposed development consisted of a subdivision development with 22 lots."

How open and closed should the access be to Waikapuna?
This is one of the many subjects being studied in the
process of creating its Resource Management Plan.
Photo form ATA

    She also noted that "There were previous discussions with the State, County, and National Park Service to see if they would be interested in taking ownership of these lands, but at that time, these entities did not feel they had the capacity to oversee and manage these lands. In 2016, Ala Kahakai Trail Association was approached and asked if they would accept this kuleana of ownership."
    Elements to be addressed by the management plan include: the wahi pana and cultural landscape: marine and coastal resources; native and endangered bird species habitat; native and endangered plant species; ranching; and managed community access.
    The Townscape representative said areas of concern shared by stakeholders include: Community access; fire risk; damage to cultural and. historic sites; marine debris and trash; invasive plant and animal species; climate change and safety.
    The online presentation documents many comments, questions and concerns from the community, including: "There is a lot of talk and worry about if this place is for subsistence gathering...why is there a locked gate? But I think that the gate is good because it protects it. South Point is an example of a place that has been desecrated. Controlled access would keep the integrity and beauty of the place."

Waikapuna covers two ahupua'a and is subject of a community
driven creation of a Resource Management Plan.
Map from Townscape

    Another of the many suggestions is to involve "Kupuna of these places who can educate people of the sacredness of these gathering area." Another comment: "I have been going to Waikapuna over the last 50 years. Born and raised in Nāʻālehu. It's a small place, as far as the beach is concerned, so I favor limited access because it's easy to overrun this place. Overnight camping: no more than three vehicles at a time There's no more room."
    Another commenter recommended preference for local people to access during the week. "My understanding is only weekends are allowed for camping. People who live in Nāʻālehu, Waiohinu and Pāhala deserve some special preference. Especially those who are subsistence gatherers. Not sure how to do that."
    Another said, "A lot of these people at these meetings are not talkers. I'm most worried about the young men who are listening and hearing that they cannot go hunt or fish. When you take away hunting and fishing from our young people; that's how they save money and feed their families and share with other families."
    Watch a YouTube recording of the meeting at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xhcq-tS3N0
    Find links for commenting and read many more of the comments from the participants at www.records.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/1/edoc/114396/Waikapuna%20-%20Community%20Meeting%20Notes%20-%20Townscape%20Draft%20(2022-01-26).pdf.
    See a slideshow with maps and other planning tools at http://records.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/1/edoc/114397/Waikapuna%20RMP_Community%20Mtg%201_Townscape%20Slideshow%20(2022-01-26).pdf

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events and Kaʻū Calendar newspaper sponsors at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/02/events-of-february-2022.html.

GOING LIVE FOR 2022 IS THE HAWAI'I COFFEE ASSOCIATION'S CONFERENCE, TRADE SHOW AND CUPPING CONTEST, May 19 - 21 at Outrigger Keauhou Bay Hotel in Kailua-Kona. 

Jose and Berta Miranda took first for the Kaʻū region
in the HCA cupping contest last year. Registration
 is open for 2022. Photo from Miranda's Farm

      During last year's HCA Cupping Contest, Miranda's Farm, with orchards above Pāhala and near South Point Road, took first in Kaʻū with its Red Catuai Natural scoring 86.60. It was followed by Rusty's Hawaiian’s Red Bourbon Natural scoring 86.22 with coffee grown above Pāhala. Tied for third were Kaʻū Mountain Farm with its Typica & Caturra Natural scoring 84.25, its coffee grown in Wood Valley, and Aloha Star, with its Typica Washed, scoring 84.25 with coffee grown above Nāʻālehu.

    For the 2022 cupping competition, coffee growers can register now and submit their green coffee later. Submissions of the coffee begin on Friday, April 1 and must be received by Friday, April 29 at 4 p.m. The fee is $75 per entry.

    The fee to attend the Hawai'i Coffee Association convention, with full registration, is $300 per person, with day passes $135 per person on Friday and $235 on Saturday, which includes the conference dinner. 

    Sponsorships range from $75 to be listed in the Conference program with mention on social media to $2,000 to be the named sponsor of the welcome reception plus other benefits.
    Kaʻū Coffee growers listed as members on the HCA website are: Kaʻū Coffee Mill, Kaʻū Mountain Farm, Island Custom Coffees, Rusty's Hawaiian Coffee snd Waiohinu Farms.       

    Coffee broker Chris Manfredi, of Kaʻū Farm & Ranch, who served as HCA president for years, is the Executive Director, and Alla Kastenko, of Kaʻū Mountain Farm, is the administrator. Tommy Greenwell is the new President of HCA.

     To register for the convention, sponsor and join HTA, see https://hawaiicoffeeassoc.org/

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events and Kaʻū Calendar newspaper sponsors at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/02/events-of-february-2022.html.

ENTREPRENEURS, STARTUPS, AND THE BOOMING FOOD WASTE BUSINESS, Monday, Feb. 14, 10 - 11:30 a.m. A virtual forum hosted by Maui Business Brainstormers to generate solutions for food waste on a local and global scale. To RSVP, visit https://www.natleshipweek-hawaii.org/feb-14-2022---food-waste---maui-hawaii.html.

VALENTINE CARDS at Nāʻālehu Community Center, Monday, Feb. 14, 4 - 5 p.m. Open to ages 8 through 12 years old. Register for free from Feb. 3 - 7. For more information, contact Recreation Director, Richard Karasuda at (808) 939-2510.

CELEBRATION OF LOVE, Monday, Feb. 14, 6 - 9 p.m. Hosted at Earthsong Foundation on South Point Road, this special event will feature sound healing, cacao, and a fire circle. Event is by donation $22-$33.

FREE HELP WITH FAMILY HISTORY in Kaʻū is available 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. every Tuesday. All are welcome to the Family History Center. The aim is to "Come Discover Your Past," says the statement from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which hosts the weekly sessions at 95-5682 Hawai'i Belt Road in Na'alehu. The drop-in assistance includes free Ancestry.com, Family search.org, and other online resources.

PRESIDENT’S DAY EAGLE CRAFT at Kaʻū District Gym & Pāhala Community Center. Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2:30 - 4 p.m. Open to grades K to 6. Register for free from Feb. 10 to 15. For more information and to register, contact Recreation Director, Nona Makuakane at (808) 928-3102.

SEE MORE CALENDAR OF EVENTS & SPONSORS

http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/02/events-of-february-2022.html

See the February Print Edition of The