Blog
News, updates, finds, stories, and tidbits from staff and community members at KAHEA. Got something to share? Email us at: kahea-alliance@hawaii.rr.com.
All Talk, No Action
From Andrea:
I attended the Reserve Advisory Council meetings on the Draft Science Plan for Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument last Tuesday and Wednesday. After two full days of meetings, I left thinking the whole process was, in the words of Shakespeare, “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
The Reserve Advisory Council is a citizen advisory body with the important responsibility of providing advice and recommendations to the co-trustees (via NOAA’s representation) on management of our beloved Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. The Draft Science Plan discussed at this meeting prioritizes research activities, meaning this plan determines what access and activities will be allowed for research within the protected Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. What access and activities are allowed within the Monument determines, ultimately, what on-the-ground level of conservation the Monument will be afforded.
These two long days of meetings, full of heated debates and hammering out precise language for this important Science Plan, led to…well, nothing! The Reserve Advisory Council (RAC) did not even have the necessary quorom- that is, minimum number of members necessary to make decisions and carry out their function, leading me to wonder why everyone spent two long, full days for all talk, no action.
I was particularly frustrated that the RAC went through all the motions but in the end lacked quorom because I have issues with the draft Science Plan. Under the Plan’s prioritization system of permits, most potential activities for permitting were ranked as “critical” or “high” priority. Can you call it “prioritized,” if everything is deemed important? Such a high proportion of activities deemed to be “critical” and “high” priority implicates a high proportion of permitted activities in the Monument, which was originally established under a guideline of no access unless permitted. Clearly, the prioritization system needs some refining to serve the purpose of the Monument.
I am afraid to report that, as the draft Science Plan stands now, access into this protected Monument via the permitting system will not be much of a hurdle. Just as one example, the Science Plan’s risk analysis section asks “what is the harm of NOT conducting the research,” without ever asking “what is the harm” of conducting it. How can you assess whether a proposed research project is worth the risk it poses to the environment, if you never ask the question?
Clearly, the Science Plan needs a lot more work. Unfortunately, who knows when the RAC will have the necessary attendance to decide on revisions to the Science Plan. I guess the system for determining which permits are granted in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands will have to be put on hold until enough RAC members decide to fulfill their duty of attending RAC meetings. Otherwise, the plan may be adopted without genuine oversight and input from the “citizen’s” advisory group.
Restoring culture and game fish
From Alana:
These days it seems like everyone who regularly fishes in the Islands have one question on their minds: where have all the fish gone? No, they didn’t swim away. No, they haven’t gone to another fishing spot. They have actually all been caught. This is the result of roughly a century of unregulated fishing in Hawai’i. And now solutions are finally being sought. The kapu system, which governed what fish could be caught and when, reigned in pre-contact days, and might be making a comeback. Although this system might mean less weekends fishing, and more weekends basking on shore, popular game fish populations like ulua and mahi-mahi could be restored, and the so could the joy of a giant catch.
Read about how this system works on Moloka’i here.
Fishing For Solutions- Easy Steps You Can Take To Increase Ocean Health
From Melissa:
Do you love a tender piece of sashimi and salmon grilled to perfection like I do? To ensure the future of our seafood eating please check out the following article and follow the easy steps included to become a more conscious consumer!
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200990615089
April's Action Alert Line-Up
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| Aloha mai Kakou! Spring is here, which means the rains will be coming to an end soon and so will the 2009 Legislative Session. In these last heated weeks of the session, the public will get one last chance to be heard on the proposals affecting our environment and culture. At the same time, it is important not to ignore key decisions affecting our public trust resources that are being made outside the Capitol. To help you keep track of it all, here are four pressing issues to take action on right now and help protect the things we all love about Hawaii nei. 1. Defend the NAR Fund… because Conservation Can’t Wait!
On Monday, the State Ways & Means Committee will consider a measure to take money away from the Natural Area Reserve Fund in order to balance the state budget. For the last ten years, this fund has provided for the conservation programs that have successfully protected our native forests, supported important watersheds, and controlled invasive species – not to mention provide affordable housing and encourage local agriculture. Cutting this fund now will short-change our children by denying them the benefit of clean water, climate change control, and healthy native ecosystems. Plus, we all know it is simply unnecessary because the state could generate at least $50 million a year from the foreign telescopes that currently use state land on Mauna Kea for free! If the state just renegotiated those leases to be fair (and legal), then Hawaii could weather this economic crisis without cutting programs (or jobs). Take action now! Tell Hawaii’s Senators: Don’t Raid, Make the Telescopes Pay. This is it. All of the hardwork to protect Mauna Kea from the pressure to build ever-larger telescopes will culminate in two hearings this week: – On Monday, in Honolulu, the State Ways & Means Committee will decide whether to pass HB 1174 to transfer authority for Mauna Kea to the University. – On Thursday, in Hilo, the State Board of Land and Natural Resources will decide whether to adopt the University’s latest development plan for the summit. Though the University continues to claim it now can properly manage the summit, the details of their plan reveal this is just the same old scam to consolidate its control over the public’s sacred summit. The University’s latest’s scheme does nothing to protect Mauna Kea’s unique and endangered alpine habitat, uphold continued cultural and religious practices on this sacred summit, or control telescope development. Add your voice to the thousands who have already spoken up in support of genuine protections for the sacred summit of Mauna Kea – just click here. Attend the Public Hearing in Hilo on April 8th and 9th at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel (71 Banyan Drive, 96720) at 9:00 am in the Moku Ola Ballroom. 3. Industrial Aquaculture Invades the Kohala Coast Huge, untethered, self-powered, underwater spheres crammed with thousands of fish floating off our coast. Yikes! Sounds like a science fiction B-film, but this is exactly what is being proposed for the Kohala coast of Hawaii Island. Hawaiian Oceanic Technology, Inc. is applying for a permit to create a new massive tuna ocean fish farm. They want to use 247 acres of our ocean to house 12 orb-like cages so they can grow tuna and export it out of Hawaii. Their draft EIS does not answer the basic questions everyone is asking: - How much waste will be created and how will it affect the marine environment? Our ocean is a public trust resource and the public deserves to know what is going to happen to it before this project causes any harm. Click here to ask Hawaiian Oceanic Technology and the approving agencies to address the public’s concerns and questions before using our waters for a project that could hurt our ocean and the wildlife in it. 4. Uphold Your Right to Go Beach – Support the Public Access Rights Bill Even though the public’s right to access the shoreline is protected by law, the lack of enforcement has created a de facto barrier on public beach access. S.B. 1088 is a simple bill that would help improve enforcement of beach access… if only it could get a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee. Click here to urge Rep. Karamatsu to hear S.B 1088 regarding public access. If you have a few minutes, give Rep. Karamatsu a polite phone call at 808-586-8490. Mahalo Pumehana, www.kahea.org |
Sacred Lake Waiau in the Natural Area Reserve at the summit of Mauna Kea. KAHEA: the Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance is a network of thousands of diverse individuals islands-wide and around the world. Together, we work to secure the strongest possible protections for Hawaii’s most ecologically unique and culturally sacred places and resources. Mailing Address: KAHEA is funded grassroots-style, and does not receive any Federal or corporate money. It is the financial support of many INDIVIDUALS, all giving what they can, that keeps the lights on and the campaigns going here at KAHEA.
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Holding the Navy Accountable on Two Fronts
From Marti:
The Navy has been on the hot seat lately for the damage it has caused in Hawaii nei. In central and western Oahu, the Environmental Protection Agency and the state got a commitment from the Navy to clean up any remaining contamination at two Superfund sites – one in Lualualei near the naval munitions storage area and the other in Wahiawa. While preliminary investigations have indicated that no immediate threats currently exist at the sites, soil contaminants at the sites include PCBs, volatile organics, semi-volatile organics and metals. PCBs can cause cancer in animals and adversely affect the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems in humans.
“Our agreement with the Navy and the state finalizes the process that the Navy will follow to complete the investigation and clean up of any remaining chemical contamination at both sites.” said Keith Takata, director for the EPA Pacific Southwest Region’s Superfund Division.
The agreement with the Navy is open to public comment. Get your say in now by visiting: www.epa.gov/region09/NavalComputer
Check out the full article at The Hawaii Independent: http://www.thehawaiiindependent.com/hawaii/oahu/2009/04/02/epa-us-navy-agrees-to-clean-wahiawa-lualualei-superfund-sites/
And, on the South shore of Oahu, controversy is brewing as the state attempts to hold the Navy financially responsible for the carnage of coral from the USS Port Royal grounding in February 2009. Ten acres of ancient coral was destroyed! Chunks as large as cars are still bouncing around on the ocean floor causing further damage.
“There is a critical need for the U.S. Navy to mitigate the damage which has occurred, which continues to occur, and which will get worse with the upcoming south summer swell,” said Laura H. Thielen, chairwoman of the DLNR, in the letter.
“We urge the U.S. Navy to commit appropriate resources to rescue disturbed or destroyed coral, remove or stabilize rubble, and protect loose live coral that has resulted from this incident.”
Here, here!! Systems that ensure the “polluter pays” are a completely reasonable (and actually quite capitalist) approach to addressing damage to our environment. The Navy’s negligence destroyed a significant part of our ocean environment. They should be required to pay for the injury they have caused and do all they can to prevent further damage.
What the Navy does in this situation will be a key indication of what the public can expect from their activities affecting the Papahanaumokuakaea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (you will recall the Navy plans to intercept chemical-laden missiles over Nihoa – the only home of at least four endangered species and one of the most significant cultural and archeological sites in the archipelago).
Check out the full article here: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090402/NEWS11/904020369/1001
Taken for a Ride
The excellent Chris Pala has a great investigative piece in today’s Honolulu Weekly on the “why” of Superferry: “Now that the Hawai‘i Supreme Court has freed them of any obligation to serve the Islands, which has proved to be a money-losing operation, are they going to fetch a better price elsewhere? If they do, was that the main point for building them and bringing them here?”
See the full article at: http://honoluluweekly.com/feature/2009/03/conspiracy-ferry/
As the Ocean Thrives, So Do We
From the amazing Hannah Bernard, an invitation to a Maui community event to launch actions that help bring back the health of nearshore waters around Maui.
More Fish in the Sea, A Community Conversation: E ola ke kai, e ola kakou (As the ocean thrives, so do we)
WHAT: We all want more fish in the sea. How do we make it happen? That is the question we will address in a half day gathering of all segments of the community and a half day work event at a nearshore site to be determined. The results we seek – a community galvanized for practical action to achieve a shared vision: MORE FISH IN THE SEA.
WHEN: April 4, 2009 – 2:00 – 6 pm & FILMFEST 7 – 10pm Sunday April 5, 7:00 am – noon.
WHERE: Maui Community College, Pilina Building and lawn
WHY: Our Earth is truly the ocean planet with more than two thirds of its surface comprised of seawater. The health of our world ocean is paramount for the health of all, but especially for islanders like us who depend on the sea for our sustenance, quality of life, livelihood, well-being and way of life. Yet our oceans are in trouble and our fish are disappearing faster than they are being replaced (>90% of our large fish are gone according to Nature, 5/15/03, to name only one international study). We are calling on everyone to come together to support the healing of our ocean and to work together to return our nearshore waters to thriving health.
HOW: We will join in small group workshops, larger group conversations, and small step action projects to plan together, work together, learn together, and discover how we will change together. We will identify paths forward and begin developing practical concrete steps that individuals, communities, citizens’ groups, businesses, and government can take to help move us toward MORE FISH IN THE SEA.
WHO: Are you an islander? Do you Think Island or want to learn how to? All interested members of the community are invited – fishermen, restaurant owners, dive and snorkel boat operators, the hospitality industry, government representatives, citizens’ and civic groups, ocean scientists, students, communications media, and philanthropists will be invited. A broadly-based steering committee will design an exciting opportunity to talk and learn together, plan together, and act together. The event will be video-taped and we’ll use the resulting video record to help build public awareness of the need for more fish in the sea and what each of us can do to help.
