LIHU'E, KAUA'I – Board of Land and Natural Resources Chairperson Laura H. Thielen will present an update on the state's continuing efforts to protect and enhance natural and cultural resources on Kaua'i and throughout the State of Hawai'i when the Governor's Kaua'i Community Advisory Council meets at 5 p.m Thursday, Sept. 18, at the Moikeha Building meeting rooms 2A/2B, 4444 Rice St. in Lihu'e.
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The meeting is open to the public.

Also attending the meeting will be Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation Administrator Ed Underwood.

Gov. Linda Lingle created community advisory councils to give the neighbor islands a stronger voice in state government. The Kaua'i Community Advisory Council holds monthly public meetings to seek community input and advise the governor of important issues, public priorities, and recommendations for state boards and commissions.

The members of the Kaua'i Community Advisory Council are James Anakalea, Stewart Burley, Linda Collins, Vilamor Galiza, James Itamura, Maka'ala Ka'aumoana, Barbara Smith, Matt Takata (chair), and Leo Trinidad.

LIHU'E, KAUA'I – Board of Land and Natural Resources Chairperson Laura H. Thielen will present an update on the state's continuing efforts to protect and enhance natural and cultural resources on Kaua'i and throughout the State of Hawai'i when the Governor's Kaua'i Community Advisory Council meets at 5 p.m Thursday, Sept. 18, at the Moikeha Building meeting rooms 2A/2B, 4444 Rice St. in Lihu'e.
Advertisement

The meeting is open to the public.

Also attending the meeting will be Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation Administrator Ed Underwood.

Gov. Linda Lingle created community advisory councils to give the neighbor islands a stronger voice in state government. The Kaua'i Community Advisory Council holds monthly public meetings to seek community input and advise the governor of important issues, public priorities, and recommendations for state boards and commissions.

The members of the Kaua'i Community Advisory Council are James Anakalea, Stewart Burley, Linda Collins, Vilamor Galiza, James Itamura, Maka'ala Ka'aumoana, Barbara Smith, Matt Takata (chair), and Leo Trinidad.

Free Accommodations For Volunteers!

ywca - Camp Sloggett

www.campingkauai.com

*** On Thursday, Friday & Saturday night

October 2, 3 & 4

*** Work Party Volunteers Sought ***

To Undertake a Camp Perimeter

Clean Up Effort

On Fri, Sat & Sun - daytime - Oct 3, 4 & 5

Bring your Own Tools for

Overgrowth Removal Efforts

*** Free Accommodations for Volunteers ***

Sleep Under the Stars, or in your Tent,

the Weinberg Bunkhouse, or

the Sloggett Lodge

*** Families Welcome - all Ages & Abilities ***

Contact Site Manager, Erik Coopersmith

for Details: 335 - 0710

*** Malama 'Aina - Preserve Koke'e ***

http://kauaiworld.com/articles/2008/06/19/news/news01.txt
Westside parks held dear by residents

by Nathan Eagle - The Garden Island

A crowded, lengthy and emotional meeting Monday evening at the Mo‘ikeha Building revealed residents’ deeply rooted attachment to two state parks on the Westside and, particularly, some 140 leased cabins there.

The state Legislature last session passed a measure that creates a one-time process to lease public lands for recreation residence use at Waimea Canyon and Koke‘e state parks. After giving existing leaseholders a chance to renew their leases, the legislation would open up a public auction process first to bidders who reside on Kaua‘i, then to state residents and finally to nonresidents.
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Dozens of community members packed the meeting room — standing along the walls, sitting on the floor and spilling out the door — to testify before Gov. Linda Lingle’s Kaua‘i Community Advisory Council.

The nine-member appointed body was gathering public input on House Bill 2872, which requires the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to directly negotiate with all existing leaseholders of recreation residences.

After the more than two-hour hearing, the council unanimously voted to send a letter to the governor recommending she allow the bill to become law.

It's not over yet. Your action is needed NOW! It's time for family and friends of Koke'e to pitch in .....

The Governor has a choice: to veto the bill, sign it, or let it pass without her signature. Her veto message is due to the Legislature on Monday, June 23 - so please forward this email to friends and family, those who support direct negotiations with existing leaseholders/ permittees - especially anyone who has stayed in your cabin and supports preserving Koke'e!

Last night, at the Governor’s Kaua‘i Community Advisory Council meeting, Francis "Bully" Mission presented a petition with 435 signatures asking her to veto the bill. Twenty one people testified for the bill, seven against. Numbers count!

Following almost three hours of testimony, the Council unanimously approved a motion (council members James Itamura moved, Stu Burley seconded) to ask her to sign the bill [Linda Collins abstained, as Kikiaola Land has a cabin].

All the testimony - including the petitions - will go to the Governor for her consideration. What happens in the next few days is crucial for the future of Koke'e!

Please email the Governor Governor.Linglehawaii.gov">Governor.Linglehawaii.gov with copies to gov.policyhawaii.gov">gov.policyhawaii.gov and Laurie.Yoshidahawaii.gov">Laurie.Yoshidahawaii.gov

requesting that she sign HB2872, which specifically applies to the current lessees or permittees. It will provides for an auction of up to a dozen cabins or more and eight or more lots now held by DLNR that have reverted to the State over the years. It also sets up a Koke'e Advisory Council. The full text of the bill is at:

This may also be a time to bring up concerns related to the Koke`e Master Plan

Tuesday, June 17th, 5:00 pm, Moikeha Building, Rooms 2A & 2B. Next to the DMV Office in Lihue.

Kauai’s Governor’s Community Advisory Council will be holding a meeting at for the specific purpose of addressing HB 2872, which is currently sitting on Governor Lingle’s desk, awaiting her signature.

This is the ‘Kokee bill’. Here’s the link to the actual text of this bill so you can read it for yourself:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2008/Bills/HB2872_CD2_.htm

There are 3 critical aspects to House Bill 2872:

1) All current Koke`e leaseholders will get an opportunity to obtain new long-term leases at re-negotiated lease rents.

2) There will be an auction for all other available cabins and vacant lots, giving preference to Kauai full-time residents.

3) A Citizen’s Advisory Council will be formed, consisting of 9 members from Kauai’s community and 4 non-voting ‘experts’. This Council will help direct how issues pertaining to Kokee are addressed.

The unfortunate choices made by the DLNR in 1985 do not have to be repeated. We do not need to lose more beloved Kokee cabins to an ill-conceived auction. The current Kokee cabin community provides lodging and ‘connection’ to a huge network of local families, and this needs to be preserved.

Aloha friends and ohana,

Thursday June 17th, 5:00 pm, Moikeha Building, Rooms 2A & 2B. Next to the
DMV Office in Lihue. Please put it on your calendar, and plan to attend
this critical public meeting.

Kauai’s Governor’s Community Advisory Council will be holding a meeting at
that time, for the specific purpose of addressing HB 2872 which is
currently sitting on Governor Lingle’s desk, awaiting her signature.

This is the ‘Kokee bill’. Here’s the link to the actual text of this bill
so you can read it for yourself:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2008/Bills/HB2872_CD2_.htm

But let me summarize (and explain) it briefly.

There are 3 critical aspects to House Bill 2872:

1) All current Kokee leaseholders will get an opportunity to obtain new
long-term leases at re-negotiated lease rents.

2) There will be an auction for all other available cabins and vacant
lots, giving preference to Kauai fulltime residents.

3) A Citizen’s Advisory Council will be formed, consisting of 9 members
from Kauai’s community and 4 non-voting ‘experts’. This Council will help
direct how issues pertaining to Kokee are addressed.

The unfortunate choices made by the DLNR in 1985 do not have to be
repeated. We do not need to lose more beloved Kokee cabins to an
ill-conceived auction. The current Kokee cabin community provides lodging
and ‘connection’ to a huge network of local families, and this needs to be
preserved.

The accumulated knowledge, relationships, commitment, passion and

Koke'e, Big meadow, 10-4

Status of Koke‘e master plan

It is the calm before the storm. We must be ready to rally again at a moment’s notice to save Kokee and Waimea Canyon State Parks from being managed as a profit-center to fund DLNR’s statewide operations.

It has been over a year since our community spoke with one, very clear and articulate, voice in response to the DLNR’s proposals to commercialize Koke‘e and Waimea State Parks. (These proposals are contained in a 2004 Master Plan and a subsequent Draft EIS issued in 2006.) The DLNR received over 1,000 letters and e-mails from Kaua‘i residents as well as many from off-island Hawai‘i residents and visitors. Thousands of people signed petitions. The message: our precious Koke‘e is perfect just as it is.

We were initially told that a final revised Master Plan would come before the Board of Land and Natural Resources by December 2006. That date was postponed in part due to the extraordinary outcry from the community, continuing long after the Aug. 7, 2006, “cut-off” date for public input. The date for adoption of the revised master plan (which we still have never seen) has yet to be set.

http://kauaiworld.com/articles/2008/04/27/news/news01.txt
Bill proposes public auction for Koke‘e, Waimea Canyon cabin leases

by Nathan Eagle - The Garden Island

After much political wrangling, the state Legislature has hammered out a bill that provides a one-time process for leasing cabins and lots at Koke‘e and Waimea Canyon state parks.

A conference committee on Thursday in Honolulu resolved the differences between the two chambers’ versions of House Bill 2872.
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The House is expected to sign off on the compromise bill Tuesday, said state Rep. Roland Sagum, D-16th District.

The controversial legislation bore a drastic evolution after it crossed over to the Senate in early March, but the Kaua‘i lawmaker said the latest draft contains some protective provisions for local residents who have leased cabins for decades at the two Westside parks.

The original House version was a directive to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to extend its recreational-residence use leases in Koke‘e and Waimea Canyon state parks for five years at a percent increase.

The Senate’s second draft discarded the extension and instead allowed the DLNR to use the process of public auction to lease the lands.