Mauna Kea comprehensive management plan: UH management areas, Appendix A & B, final

Author:

Hoakea, LLC dba Kuiwalu

Title:

Mauna Kea comprehensive management plan: UH management areas, Appendix A & B, final

Periodical:

Mauna Kea Plans

Year:

2009

Subject:

Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan Mauna Kea planning Cultural resources management Natural resources management

Summary:

Mauna Kea is probably one of the most significant cultural and astronomical sites in the world. For the Hawaiian people, Mauna Kea is their cultural connection or piko (umbilical cord) to Papa and Wakea -- it is the beginning and the end. For the astronomical community, Mauna Kea is the scientific umbilical cord to the mysteries of the universe. While many people in the community believe that science and culture can co-exist, they also share a similar concern that the general community, including the astronomical community, does not really understand or appreciate how significant Mauna Kea is to the Hawaiian people. This lack of cultural sensitivity engendered anger, hurt, and distrust towards the University of Hawaii (UH) for not being good stewards of Mauna Kea. As a result, it was felt that understanding and information, to appreciate Mauna Kea from a cultural perspective, would assist in avoiding miscommunications or unintentional disrespect. Based upon the previous management plans, The 2000 Master Plan, Auditor's reports, and years of contentious litigation, the University of Hawaii (UH) and, specifically, the Office of Mauna Kea Management determined that a Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP) was needed for the Mauna Kea Science Reserve -- the lands on Mauna Kea under lease from the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) to the University. The CMP starts with the premise that if a person is culturally oriented about how valuable and vulnerable the cultural and natural resources are on Mauna Kea, they will become better stewards of Mauna Kea. Therefore, the CMP begins with a "Cultural Anchor" prepared by The Edith Kanakaole Foundation to set the cultural framework of Mauna Kea. Chapter 1 provides a more in depth cultural orientation in the traditional and contemporary cultural significance of Mauna Kea. Throughout the development of the plan, the community was aggressively and extensively engaged in the process and it was very clear, from the initial meeting in Hilo, that the development of a CMP needed to be initiated from the Big Island community. It was also clear that those who were preparing this document needed to listen to the concerns of the people in a thoughtful and respectful manner. As a result, Chapter 4 describes the extensive community outreach process that the team of the CMP engaged in to [first] ask permission, listen, and then develop a plan that was respectful of what was heard. Based upon the extensive community outreach and the best information available about the cultural and natural resources of Mauna Kea, this CMP is the most responsible course of action to preserve and protect the valuable resources of Mauna Kea by managing the multiple uses and activities within the areas that are managed by the University of Hawaii. This CMP also encourages that its management strategies be implemented proactively as precautions to protect the environment without the need for delay while additional data or information is gathered. The University recognizes that Mauna Kea is a living resource where Native Hawaiians exercise traditional and customary practices either within the UH Management Areas or access through Mauna Kea's trail system to gather and hunt on surrounding lands. With this recognition comes the obligation to preserve and protect those constitutionally guaranteed rights. The Hawaii Supreme Court, in its decision in Ka Paakai, provides government agencies an analytical framework to ensure the protection and preservation of valued cultural, historical and natural resources. The ways in which the CMP addresses this requirement is described in this document. In addition, there were several recurring issues that were heard during the community outreach process that were not believed to be appropriately management issues but rather policy issues that would require greater dialogue with the community and clear policy direction and decision beyond the scope of the CMP. These issues include ceded lands, state lease, fair and just compensation for the use of ceded lands, decommissioning or the timely removal of telescopes from the summit and restoration of the site, community benefits packages for the use of Mauna Kea that is more than free viewing time for the University, and greater involvement of the community in management decisions relating to Mauna Kea. These very important policy issues are identified in Section 2.1.4. of this document.

URL:

https://hilo.hawaii.edu/maunakea/documents/CMP_2009.PDF

Collection:

EIS