Aloha mai kakou!
Mahalo pumehana for making your voice heard on the fast-tracking of changes to the laws protecting forests, reefs, and wahi pana throughout Hawai’i nei. On relatively short notice, nearly 700 individuals and 34 organizations representing thousands more put down their name to tell the Lingle Administration and DLNR, “Hey, not so fast!” on these proposed rollbacks to environmental protections for conservation and coastal lands in Hawai’i.
As you know, the proposed rollbacks affect over 2 million acres of lands, 51% of the “ceded” lands trust, as well as all public trust waters, reefs and ocean in Hawai’i nei.
Now, a new version of the proposed rules has just been released. Thanks to you -- and your attendance at the hearings, your written comments, and your letters to the editor -- we are at least seeing a final draft of the proposed rules with more than six days' notice. (Six days is all that is required!) MAHALO!!!
It looks like the final rules will be heard and voted on by the Land Board in November (either Nov. 12th or 22nd). You can find the final draft of the rules and a general letter from Sam Lemmo here: http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/occl/documents-forms/proposed-13-5-amendments
We are continuing to analyze this final draft, but on first read, it looks like many of the most dangerous proposals have been taken out. This would not have been possible without so many coming to the table to take collective action in defense of conservation lands in Hawai'i nei.
That said, there is still work to be done! We continue to have serious concerns about some of the rollbacks being proposed and strongly believe that the process for these rule changes has been improperly rushed. It is important that we continue to make our voices heard.
As soon as we know the date and time of the hearing, we’ll let you know.
What can you do in the mean time? Please tell your family and friends about this issue and ask them to click-and-send testimony to the Land Board.
More resources:
- Action Page on the KAHEA website - http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2699/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=4660
- Great piece in the Honolulu Weekly by Rob Parsons - Read "DLNRn't"
- Op-ed in the Star-Advertiser by Jon Osorio and Vicky Holt-Takamine - Read Op-ed
- Fact Sheet: http://tiny.cc/conservationlands
If you’ve ever been witness to a bulldozer in a wahi pana, or seen a poorly planned and damaging development, you know why these kinds of protections are so important! Please take the time to ask your friends and family to stand with you in defense of our conservation districts. Mahalo for making a difference for Hawai’i nei!
Aloha,
Marti Townsend (and the rest of “us guys” at KAHEA)
_______________
Marti Townsend
Program Director
KAHEA: The Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance
http://www.kahea.org
http://blog.kahea.org
phone/fax: 877-585-2432 (toll-free)
Mail:
P.O. Box 37368
Honolulu, HI 96837
E ho'omalu kakou i ka pono, ke 'ano o ka nohona a me ka 'aina mai na kupuna mai
Protecting Native Hawaiian Traditional and Customary Rights and Our Fragile Environment
Notes:
Need to go to the amendments, mahalo
Replies
It is so frustrating that those that receive benefits from the US as in retirement checks for serving the government are talking two sides of their mouths on Maoliworld.
With Nov 28 around the corner, I wonder how they can wake up in the morining and truly call themselves Hawaiian Nationals. But, it's wee morning and just giving it some thought.
As you wrote on the 'quantum' language on another post you are correct. The bloodquantum sucks to high heaven, and we are stuck on that road that leads to no where!
I don't have all the answers, or notions but just to say something has go to give. In reading Marti's response on email, it seems to me the rules are being rewritten to fast tract privatization, and safe guard bankers investments for failed R & D research projects that actually distroys habitats.
Too early in the morning.
The word 'Comprehensive' before Managment Plan will have a devastating effects to our habitas, giving power and authority to whom ever crosses the Pacific is very dangerous to the true remaining Na Kanaka in Hawaii. This may sound too ethno to some people, but that is not the case. Continuity connects to malama the aina and ones ohana, in addition to, a fluid life forming continuum of generations to come for all ethnic cultures in Hawaii