About 50 people turned out for a meeting to discuss the delicate balance between protection and access at the remote Honomanu Valley in East Maui. The bay once supported a large population of native Hawaiians that fished and raised taro in ancient times. A combination of subsistence fishermen, lineal descendants and area residents have been raising concerns over the growing impacts to resources citing increased traffic by surfers, campers and visitors. Meantime, state enforcement officers have also been fielding complaints of their own, from park users who claim they are being threatened. Area resident, Terry Akuna said his lifestyle is the thing that hangs in the balance. Others are at odds over the suggestion saying the area should be kept open for all to appreciate and care for. (Posted: 6/6/08)
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I love it...conservation, protection, preservation..I wish them well in working together. If the community wants to care for this they need the funding to take care of the place and more than likely they will need to have liability insurance or a waiver filed for those who enter the area. This is a sensitive issue economically and culturally.
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