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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.C.R. NO. |
88 |
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TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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RESOLUTION
requesting the department of land and natural resources consider imposing restrictions on public access to the ahihi-kinau natural area reserve.
WHEREAS, Ahihi-Kinau, the area on Maui's southwest flank that contains the most recent a'a lava flow from Haleakala, was the first designated natural area reserve in the State; and
WHEREAS, the reserve contains numerous ancient Hawaiian archeological and cultural sites, fragile anchialine ponds, isolated coves, coral reefs, and shoreline areas that provide a habitat for a plethora of marine fauna, including many fish species, corals, and crustaceans, and offshore areas providing resting areas for spinner dolphins and turtles; and
WHEREAS, Hawaii is the only state in the union that has anchialine ponds that are land-locked pools with measured varying degrees of salinity, no surface connection to the ocean, yet show tidal fluctuation indicating indirect connection to the ocean; and
WHEREAS, anchialine ponds contain a very distinct assemblage of aquatic fauna, most of which are very rare, endemic, fragile, and endangered by human activities; and
WHEREAS, the anchialine ponds at Ahihi-Kinau are the best biologically intact example of anchialine resources in Hawaii; and
WHEREAS, several isolated coves in the Ahihi-Kinau reserve, including the popularly named Aquarium and Fishbowl, teeming with aquatic fauna, including numerous species of colorful fish, crustaceans, and corals, are very popular with local residents and visitors alike; and
WHEREAS, the anchialine ponds and the isolated coves, the habitats they provide, and the aquatic fauna they contain are threatened with being overrun by human activity; and
WHEREAS, the highest priority for the natural area reserve system is the protection of the ecosystems and the conservation of the resources contained in the reserves; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is urged to immediately undertake an expedited review of the Ahihi-Kinau natural area reserve, including consideration of the following:
(1) Rerouting some of the existing trails away from the anchialine ponds; however, ancient Hawaiian trails leading toward the ponds should remain;
(2) Limiting or prohibiting access to the anchialine ponds and allowing access only by permitted persons through the possible use of signs or other means but without the use of fencing;
(3) Expanding parking areas at the north and south ends of the reserve area and prohibiting parking on the road between the parking areas;
(4) Charging a parking fee or reserve area entry fee, while at the same time providing comfort stations, containing portable toilets and informational signs or kiosks, near the parking areas;
(5) Setting a maximum carrying capacity for the number of persons at the Aquarium site and the Fishbowl site at any one time;
(6) Establishing entry areas for persons entering the water at the Aquarium and the Fishbowl to protect the nearshore submerged rocks and coral at those sites;
(7) Prohibiting public access at night;
(8) Banning or strictly limiting any type of commercial activities in the reserve; and
(9) Prohibiting the use of kayaks or canoes, commercial or private, within the reserve; however, traditional canoe usage should not be restricted; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Advisory Council is requested to submit a report of the review pursuant to this Concurrent Resolution, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature at least twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2006; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.
Report Title:
Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve