Public input sought on Kahuku Unit plan – West Hawaii Today

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is inviting the community to provide input about a plan to manage the Kahuku Unit, which is a separate area of the park that encompasses 132,000-plus acres in Ka‘u.

The comment period for the Kahuku Unit Site Management Plan has begun and closes at 8:59 p.m. Hawaii time on Friday, Dec. 6

There also will be three public meetings — two in-person and one virtual — to discuss the plan. The public meetings are: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, at the Naalehu Community Center, 95-5635 Hawaii Belt Rd., and 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at the Kahuku Visitor Contact Station, Mamalahoa Highway (Route 11) mile marker 70.5.

The virtual meeting is from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, at https://swca.zoom.us/j/91799290126.

The story map can be reviewed and comments submitted online at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/KahukuPlan.

The primary officials at the meeting will include HVNP Superintendent Rhonda Loh, Environmental Protection Specialist Danielle Foster and Kahuku Unit Manager Travis Heinrich. Other managers from the park will include Summer Roper, in charge of cultural resources, Sierra McDaniel, in charge of natural resources, and Jessica Ferracane, the park’s spokeswoman.

“We urge the Ka‘u community to join us in this planning process,” said Loh. “The site management plan presents ideas intended to balance the protection of cultural and natural resources with visitor access and recreation, and to nurture the connection generations of Ka‘u families have to these special places mauka to makai.”

Loh said the main mindset in completing the plan will be “malama ‘aina” — preservation of its beauty and natural resources.

“What we’ve heard from the public to date is a strong desire to preserve the rural experience and natural landscapes of Kahuku and to participate in the stewardship of these special areas,” she said. “While the lower portion of Kahuku is a pastoral landscape resulting from years of cattle ranching, much of Kahuku is noted for its biological diversity, ecological integrity and wild character.

“Existing park management activities in Kahuku concentrate on protecting and recovering native species … and ecosystems, controlling invasive nonnative plants and animals, developing interpretive programs, and conducting surveys and inventories of cultural and natural resources.

“Potential future activities and improvements could include small-scale campsites, reestablishing and/or improving historic trails (and) increasing guided activities.”

According to Ferracane, the plan will comply with applicable regulations and National Park Service management policies, including National Environmental Policy Act, National Historic Preservation Act and the Endangered Species Act.

”During the planning process, we will determine the anticipated level of impact of the proposed actions, which will dictate what level of compliance is necessary,” Ferracane said.

A site plan for the Kahuku Unit was called for in the 2016 General Management Plan. It will refine the vision outlined in the GMP for the unit by assessing and providing recommendations for facilities and improving access.

“In the General Management Plan, it was identified that the park would encourage a rustic visitor experience in Kahuku — referring to the Upper and Lower Kahuku areas since that is what was under our management at the time,” said Ferracane. “The focus would be on recreational activities such as hiking, camping and nature-viewing, with some biking and scenic driving opportunities. A minimum amount of pavement and road infrastructure would be reconstructed and/or maintained to accommodate recreation and visitor circulation while preserving the natural surroundings.”

Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.