HILO, Hawai'i — Despite objections from Native Hawaiians and environmentalists, a plan aimed at protecting the Mauna Kea summit region received a favorable recommendation yesterday from a local advisory panel.

The Mauna Kea Management Board's 6-1 vote supporting the Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan paves the way for the state to consider approving the 299-page document next month.

While approving it, members nonetheless called it imperfect and made their support contingent on the University of Hawai'i — which leases the state-owned Mauna Kea Science Reserve — making a "firm commitment" to provide the funding and staffing to carry out the plan.

"The plan may be less than meaningful if we don't have the commitment for resources and staffing that we need," Ron Terry, second vice-chairman, said in proposing that amendment, which the board then approved.

Mauna Kea is a "cultural treasure, and it's worth the money," Terry said, noting he's well aware of the state government's dire financial situation.

Those resources are needed, "otherwise the CMP is for naught," added Ed Stevens, a member of the Kahu Ku Mauna Council, which serves as a cultural adviser to the board.

Asked by an audience member if the board will withdraw its support if the university fails to make the requested financial commitment, Chairman Barry Taniguchi said, "I think it's a fair assumption to make."

The plan details the significance of Hawai'i's tallest volcano, which has world-class observatories, ancient cultural sites and snow-based recreation. It aims to protect the summit region that certain Native Hawaiians consider a sacred temple and the closest connection to their gods.

"We and Mauna Kea are one," Luana Jones, a Native Hawaiian, said in tearful testimony opposing the plan.

The plan calls for outreach programs, increased opportunities for community input, and mandatory orientations before ascending to the summit.

It also has guidelines for cultural offerings and calls for a parking plan, studying the feasibility of paving the dirt sections of the summit road, and prohibiting activities harmful to the observatories.

"This is not a perfect document by all means," said Dawn Chang, principal of the Honolulu consulting firm Ku'iwalu, which developed the plan for the University of Hawai'i at Hilo's Office of Mauna Kea Management.

The office took over management responsibilities for the summit region in 2000.

She said the plan is a "beginning."

Board member Terry had the same impression.

"It's not a perfect plan, but it was never meant to be a perfect plan. It was meant to be a start," Terry said, adding he sympathizes with people who said the management process has been "starting" for several decades.

More than 50 people attended the board's meeting at the UH-Hilo campus, with 24 testifying and several others submitting written comments.

Testimony was nearly evenly split. Labor and business representatives supported the plan, while environmentalists and several Native Hawaiians spoke against it.

The CMP assures authority over both public and commercial activities, while also empowering rangers to do their job, businessman David De Luz Jr. said in urging its passage.

"This mountain, Mauna Kea, is part of who we are, and this CMP gives us the opportunity to let us care for her as we do our own homes," he said.

Barbara Hastings, Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce president, called it a "good and decent plan" that "moves protection of the mountain forward."

Opponents had a different take.

The Sierra Club's Nelson Ho said the plan is "vague and deficient."

"I think there's a lot of anger that you folks haven't seen here," he said.

Members didn't have to wait long to discover that.

Native Hawaiian Tom Anthony called the CMP "crap" that a "bogus" board is trying to shove down people's throats.

"There will be litigation," he shouted. "We're not taking this lightly."

Anthony complained about being charged a $3 UHH parking fee, and the "intimidating" presence of an armed state Department of Land and Natural Resources employee.

He advised a companion who was testifying to "no act up, they might shoot you."

Despite the occasional outbursts, there were no significant disturbances.

The armed DLNR employee wrote down speakers' names as a private security guard was positioned outside of the meeting room.

Traditional practitioner Hanalei Fergerstrom complained that the plan provides for cultural protections, but doesn't mention religion, which is federally protected.

"You don't settle a problem. You compound a problem," he said.

Also dissatisfied with the plan was board member Lisa Hadway, who voted against both the funding amendment and the plan.

"I just feel this plan needs some work," said Hadway, a DLNR administrator.

She did not cite any objectionable provisions, however.

"They're kind of large in scale," Hadway told the Tribune-Herald when asked following the meeting why she didn't offer any amendments.

The plan now goes to the state Board of Land and Natural Resources, which will meet April 8 and 9 in Hilo to consider approving it.

The Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan is available on the Internet at www.maunakeacmp.com.