PROPOSED WITHDRAWALS FROM MAUNA KEA FOREST RESERVE ON HAWAIʻI ISLAND 2019

PROPOSED WITHDRAWALS FROM MAUNA KEA FOREST RESERVE ON HAWAIʻI ISLAND 2019

The following areas are proposed for withdrawal from the Forest Reserve System on the island of Hawaii:

  1. Withdrawal of Tax Map Key (3) 4-4-016: portion of 003 comprising approximately 2.9 acres from Mauna Kea Forest Reserve, Kaohe IV, Hamakua, Hawaii, and set aside to the Department of Transportation for construction of a highway maintenance baseyard.

  2.  Withdrawal of Tax Map Key (3) 4-4-016: portion of 003, Gilbert Kahele Recreation Area, from the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve, Kaohe IV, Hamakua, Hawaii, comprising of approximately 32.572 acres and set aside to the County of Hawaii for park purposes.

Public Hearing Information

The Division of Forestry and Wildlife is holding a public hearing at 6:00 pm on Wednesday June 26, 2019, at the Hawaiʻi Island Division of Forestry and Wildlife Conference Room, 19 E. Kawili St., Hilo, Hawaiʻi, 96720. The purpose of this hearing is to provide the public the opportunity to present comments on the proposed changes to the government forest reserve lands on the island of Hawaiʻi. The proposed changes are as follows:

All interested persons are invited to attend the public hearing to present relevant information and opinions for DLNR to consider. Persons unable to attend or wishing to provide additional comments may submit written testimony postmarked no later than July 10, 2019

  1. By mail to the Forestry Program Manager, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, 1151 Punchbowl St., #325, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96813;

  2. By email to [email protected]

 

Any person requesting auxiliary aid or service (i.e. large print materials, sign language interpreters) is asked to contact Kylee Wideman at 808-927-0412 or through the Telecommunication Relay Service at 711 by June 19, 2019.

After compiling input from the public hearing and other testimonies received through July 10 2019, DOFAW will present a summary of public testimony, staff analyses and recommendations for further actions to the BLNR.  After considering all public testimony, the Land Board will decide whether to proceed with or change their previous recommendation for the proposed revisions to the Forest Reserve System. 

Should the BLNR opt to proceed with the current recommendations, DLNR will send the items to the Governor for final approval via Executive Order. If approved, the lands would be formally withdrawn from the Forest Reserve System; Subject, however, to disapproval by the Legislature by two-thirds vote of either the Senate or the House of Representatives or by majority vote of both, in any regular or special session next following the date of the Executive Order.