Input on land use for profit sought
By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will hold simultaneous public hearings on O'ahu, Maui, Kaua'i and the Big Island Thursday to gather testimony about allowing commercial use of unencumbered public lands.
The meetings begin at 6 p.m. Thursday at the following locations: • O'ahu: Kalanimoku Building, 1151 Punchbowl St., Room 132. • Big Island: State Office Building, 75 Aupuni St., Hilo, conference rooms A, B and C. • Maui: Velma Santos Community Center, 395 Waema St., Wailuku. • Kaua'i: State Office Building, 3060 Eiwa St., Lihu'e, conference rooms A, B and C.
These are state properties that are not leased, set aside for agencies or designated for specific land use. They include all beaches and coastal areas not under the jurisdiction of another government agency, but not parks, harbors and forest reserves.
Public meetings
Peter Young, DLNR director, said the proposed rule changes will set up a permit process allowing businesses to use the land if they are willing to provide a quality experience for visitors or residents and protect the natural and cultural resources.
"At this time, our rules don't allow commercial activities on unencumbered land," Young said. "Our management priorities are, first, to protect and preserve our natural and cultural resources. Next, where appropriate, we will seek and provide for the public's recreational use of our public unencumbered lands without compromising their protection and preservation."
Dede Mamiya, DLNR land division administrator, said the commercial activities would include weddings and surf schools, but not concession stands. Businesses would simply fill out an application for a permit and pay a fee of about $20.
She said the purpose of the public meetings is to accept testimony, and the department will then go to the Land Board and decide whether to amend the rules.
Jeff Mikulina, director of Sierra Club Hawai'i Chapter, said he had several concerns about the proposed rule changes, including a provision that a permit would be granted automatically if no action were taken on it in seven days.
"(Gov. Linda) Lingle testified last year that we should not be approving any permits by default — that's a failure of government — but they should be granted on the merits of the permit," he said.
Mikulina said that under the new rules, permits would be approved by the DLNR director and not the entire Land Board. He would like that changed to allow for public input.
He also wants the department to set limits on commercial use of unencumbered lands and to collect a portion of the revenues to go toward protecting the land.
"There is going to be some sort of impact, no matter what it is," he said. "Someone has to pay for that upkeep, so it makes sense to devote a small chunk to maintenance of the resource.
"We'd like to see them set some real limits based on what the resource can handle. A lot of these unencumbered lands are where folks seek out because they can have a solitary experience, and that is quickly ruined with too many folks. Hopefully, they will decide what the resource needs are and then what the residents' and visitors' needs are for the wilderness experience."
For more information, call 587-0320. Rules are online at www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/land/draftrules.
Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.
