Maunakea Authority – 08/14/25

 

MAUNAKEA STEWARDSHIP AND
OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY (MKSOA)
BOARD MEETING
600 ʻImiloa Place
Hilo HI 96720
Telephone (808) 272-0259
Website: http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/maunakea-authority/

MEETING AGENDA

Thursday, August 14, 2025 – 10:00 am
In person at 19 E. Kawili Street, Hilo, HI

This agenda and the listed submittals will be provided in the Board Packet. This
meeting will be held using interactive conference technology under section 92-3.7,
Haw. Rev. Stat. (HRS). Board members, staff, applicants, testifiers, and the public can
choose to participate in person, online via Zoom, or by telephone.

The public may also view the live meeting via its live stream at:
https://www.youtube.com/@MaunaKeaSOA

To Provide Written Testimony: We encourage interested persons to submit written testimony in advance of the meeting, which will be distributed to Board members prior to the meeting and allow a timely review. Please submit written testimony via email to: [email protected]. Written testimonies can also be mailed to: 600 ʻImiloa Place, Hilo, HI 96720. Written testimonies may be posted upon the Board of Land and Natural Resources meeting website; as a precaution, please be mindful with any personal information prior to submitting unless you intend it to be shared. Late written testimony will be retained as part of the record and distributed to Board members as soon as practicable, but we cannot ensure the Board will receive it in sufficient time to review, prior to decision-making.

To Provide In-Person Oral Testimony (masks are appreciated): Attend in-person at: 19 E Kawili St, Hilo, HI, 96720

To Provide Testimony by Telephone: On the day of the meeting at the start of the agenda item you wish to testify on, dial 1-669-444-9171 (Zoom), input Meeting ID: 986 9954 5770, Passcode: 523433 Note: to unmute, press *6

To Provide Video/Zoom Testimony: Please send your request in a timely manner to: [email protected] with your information, email address, and the agenda item you wish to testify on. Once your request has been received, you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link via which to testify. You may testify without signing up in advance. Requests may be made during the meeting and will be processed as soon as practicable.

Further Assistance: If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability, contact MKSOA Board Secretary at [email protected], 808-272-0259, as soon as possible. Requests made as early as possible have a greater likelihood of being fulfilled. Upon request, this notice is available in alternate/accessible formats.

Board Packet: Materials may be viewed prior to the meeting at 640 N Aohoku Place, Hilo HI 96720
the MKSOA website: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/maunakea-authority/

If you would like to be notified of meetings and agenda notices, please email [email protected].

 

I. CALL TO ORDER AND WELCOME PROTOCOL

II. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS

III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

A. June 12, 2025 Regular Board Meeting
B. July 10, 2025 Regular Board Meeting

IV. CHAIR REPORT– Public Testimony taken (written or oral) on any of these items

A. Executive Director Performance Appraisal PIG Report – Member Horner

V. GOVERNANCE – Public Testimony taken (written or oral) on any of these items

VI. ADMINISTRATION – Public Testimony taken (written or oral) on any of these
items

A. Report by Executive Director (ED) De Fries

1. Interim Office Update – Project Director Stormont
2. Community Talk Story Session Series Schedule

1. Kaʻū 8/13/25 – Nāʻālehu Community Center
2. Kona 8/27/25 – West Hawaiʻi Civic Center
3. Hāmākua 9/3/25 – Laupāhoehoe Community PCS Cafeteria
4. Waimea 9/17/25 – Kahilu Town Hall
5. Hilo 9/24/25 – UH Hilo, Hale ʻŌlelo

B. Status of Long-Term Transition Working Group (LTTWG), Report by Member Kudo

1. July Meeting Update

C. Update on 7/29-30/25 DLNR Director & Deputy Directors and OCCL Administrator Mauna Kea Site Visit

D. Update on 8/11-12/25 State House Delegation Mauna Kea Site Visit

E. Meeting on 8/14/25 with The Chamber Hui, comprised of the Executive Committees of the Hawaiʻi Island Chamber of Commerce, Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce, Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawaiʻi and Hui ʻOihana Hawaiʻi Island Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce

F. Preparation for 8/26/25 Meeting in Hilo with State Senate WAM Committee

G. Update on Consulting Services to Develop a Management Plan for the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority – Interim Administrative Services Officer Unebasami

VII. FINANCE– Public Testimony taken (written or oral) on any of these items

A. Report by Interim Administrative Services Officer Unebasami– July Financial Report Including Appropriations, Budget, Expenditures, Balance

B. FY26-27 MSKOA Biennium Budget

VIII. CENTER FOR MAUNAKEA STEWARDSHIP (CMS) – Public Testimony taken (written or oral) on any of these items

A. Operational Update- CMS ED Chun

1. ACTION REQUIRED (from 7/10/25 MKSOA Board meeting)

a. IRTF Geophysical Testing Project (Reviewed 7/10/25)
b. Debris Removal Plan (Reviewed 7/10/25)

2. INFORMATION ONLY

a. Gemini Ladder Replacement
b. VLBA Weather Instrument Upgrade

B. Joint Management Committee (JMC)- CMS, MKSOA

1. Discussion on Cost-Sharing between CMS and MKSOA for FY26 and FY27
2. UH Board of Regents Meeting 8/7/25

IX. FORMATION OF PERMITTED INTERACTION GROUP (PIG) TO INVESTIGATE THE TRANSITION BETWEEN CMS AND MKSOA)– Public Testimony taken (written or oral) on any of these items

A. PIG Chair: John Komeiji; PIG Members: Noe Noe Wong-Wilson, Rich Matsuda, Neil Hannahs

X. PROCESS AND TIMETABLE FOR OBSERVATORY SUBLEASE RENEWALS– Public Testimony taken (written or oral) on any of these items

A. Presentation by UH Institute for Astronomy (IFA) Director Doug Simons The Authority may go into Executive Session pursuant to Section 92-5(a)(4) to consult with the Authority’s attorney on questions and issues pertaining to the Authority’s power, duties, privileges, immunities, and liabilities.

XI. ANNOUNCEMENTS

A. NEXT AUTHORITY MEETING- SEPTEMBER 11, 2025, 10:00AM-12:00PM
B. NEW MEETING VENUE- IFA LIBRARY 640 N. AOHOKU PL, HILO
C. COMMUNITY TALK-STORY KAʻŪ 8/13/25 – 5:30PM-7:30PM NĀʻĀLEHU COMMUNITY CENTER
D. COMMUNITY TALK-STORY KONA 8/27/25 – 5:00PM-7:00 PM WEST HAWAIʻI CIVIC CENTER

XII. ADJOURNMENT