Posted on: Friday, April 13, 2001

State delays decision on North Kona ranch

By Hugh Clark
Advertiser Big Island Bureau

HILO, Hawai'i — The future of the 21,000-acre Pu'uwa'awa'a Ranch in North Kona will be decided in about six months, the state Board of Land and Natural Resources decided yesterday after hearing almost three hours of conflicting testimony on what to do with the site.

A 40-year cattle lease ran out last year, and two groups with opposing interests want to take control of the land, each promising to reduce fire risk, protect nearly two dozen endangered plant species and ensure sustainable hunting.

The board voted to allow the present sublessees to continue ranching about 1,200 cattle under a revocable permit while a compromise is sought between ranching, Native Hawaiian, hunting and environmental interests.

After describing the matter as an "amazingly complex and contentious issue," Dr. Fred Holschuh, the land board's Big Island member, said he believes all sides can be satisfied in joint use of the more than 100-year-old ranch that traces its start back to King Kamehameha III.

But environmentalists, many of whom urged yesterday that the ranching lease be canceled, were skeptical.

So was retired Honoka'a physician Bruce "Kaimiloa" Chrisman, who described himself as a "pragmatic environmentalist." He said he favors the Wildlife Conservation Association's proposal that would give more control to pig and bird hunters and the Pu'uwa'awa'a Cattle Co., sponsors of one lease proposal.

Another is by the Native Hawaiian and environmental group Ka 'Ahahui o Pu'uwa'awa'a, led by former Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee Hannah Springer, whose family comes from North Kona, and Chris Yuen, planning director for Hawai'i County.

Of the 21 persons testifying yesterday, two-thirds endorsed the Springer-Yuen proposal that would rely on eco-tourism such as camping and hiking and limited cattle raising — about 500 animals — to pay for land restoration efforts.

U.S. Forest Service spokesman Jack Ewel also endorsed the plan, saying it is the best chance to save the rare dry land forest.

But John Carroll, a former state legislator living in Hamakua, said he believes the proposal is the "alter ego" of The Nature Conservancy, which previously tried to obtain the lands from the board.

Native Hawaiian Lloyd Case urged the board to look after the interests of cowboys and hunters, and to "preserve our lifestyle."