WAILUKU - At a public hearing on urbanization of a 2.7-acre lot in Makena, Daniel Kanahele admonished the Maui Planning Commission to expand its vision, the Maui News reported today.

The registered archaeological sites on the lot are part of a larger complex, a "cultural landscape," Kanahele said last week.

"Makena is a culturally, historically and ecologically sensitive place," said Kanahele. Around the lot are a koa heiau (fishing shrine), a fishpond that some people hope to restore and a platform whose workmanship suggests the home of a chief.

"The day has come of looking at archaeological sites in terms of the cultural landscape," he said. He asked that instead of acting on the application for a state district boundary amendment, the commission refer the matter to the county's Cultural Resources Commission.

Commissioner Ward Mardfin, who lives in Hana, said he was prepared to agree about cultural landscapes, but he lectured Kanahele back at Tuesday's meeting. Reading from the consultant's report, he listed the agencies and groups whose opinions were solicited: Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Central Maui Hawaiian Civic Club, State Historic Preservation Division, Hui Alanui O Makena, several Native Hawaiians and professional archaeologists - and the Cultural Resources Commission.

"With the exception of OHA, nobody responded," said Mardfin. "They made a second try. No reply. I don't know what we as a commission can do. What's going on?"

Kanahele did not have a specific remedy.

"I am speaking for the aina," he said.

Several other testifiers objected to urbanizing the land.

"We don't need another Kihei," said Kai Nishiki, a defeated County Council candidate and daughter of maverick Council Member-elect Wayne Nishiki.

Hannah Bernard, president of the Hawaii Wildlife Fund, said that endangered hawksbill turtles that nest on Big Beach are "hanging by a thread" and can't stand any more pressure.

Greg Kaufman of Iwa Ike LLC was requesting a change in classification from state agriculture to urban in order to subdivide the lot into four. It is mauka of the road and the Makena State Park.

The Planning Department was prepared to support the request, with several conditions, including a ban on further subdivision and a minimum of half-acre lots. Under state law, the county has authority to approve state land classifications for lots of less than 15 acres.

As agricultural land, the owner could build a farm dwelling and may be allowed an accessory dwelling. Under urban designation, each lot could have a house and an ohana.

Bernard and Angie Hoffman, a naturalist who has been monitoring a Honu ea (hawksbill) Recovery Program, said the reefs off Makena are dying and development and urbanization would only worsen that.

Commissioner Wayne Hedani agreed that the area offshore is in decline. He has been diving the area for 40 years, he said, and the variety and amount of fish has gone down.

"The coral is dying."

But since there has been hardly any development, he asked Bernard to explain what is causing the deterioration.

She said part of it may be kiawe trees. There were not many at Big Beach 50 years ago. Today there are, and their leaves fall into the wetland, sopping up the water.

Hedani, who said he recalled kiawe as far back as he could remember, seemed unpersuaded.

"I don't personally believe it is connected to the development," he said.

Commissioner Bruce U'u said he opposed the reclassification because "I don't see the benefits."

Development of the land into four parcels won't trigger requirements for the developer to make school or affordable housing contributions.

With other applicants, U'u said, "We grill 'em and mill 'em and send them back to the factory."

Mardfin noted that OHA, the one agency that did comment, "was opposed." Planner Joe Prucha said OHA had not responded in writing.

Mardfin said he had voted in favor of the amendment earlier, but because at that time there was "a lack of clear testimony from the Hawaiian community."

"We have heard the environmental concerns," he said.

He moved to deny the application. U'u seconded.

Commissioner Kent Hiranaga said he would oppose the motion, because he supported Kanahele's proposal to refer the application to the Cultural Resources Commission and OHA.

"I feel the applicant is in compliance," he said.

Hiranaga stepped out when the vote was taken, and the rest of the commission approved Mardfin's motion to deny.

* Harry Eagar can be reached at heagar@mauinews.com.