Bill Text: HI HCR95 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: DLNR; Environmental Assessment; Development in Hawaii Kai

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-02-18 - (H) Referred to WLO/EEP, FIN, referral sheet 30 [HCR95 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-HCR95-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	95
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the Department of land and natural resources to require an environmental assessment for any project or potentially harmful action that would negatively impact the natural resources of hawaii kai drive wetland and spring and the hawea heiau area in hawaii kai, oahu.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, Maunalua Bay, which means "two mountains" in Hawaiian, constitutes an ecological and cultural treasure on the island of Oahu, in particular, and in the state of Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Maunalua Bay area contains a number of natural reserves, some of which are wetland habitats--including but not limited to Paiko Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary; Rim Island 2; Hawaii Kai Marina; Kuapa Pond; Hawaii Kai Drive Wetland; Hawea Heiau area; and the Ihi’ihilauakea Preserve, Koko Head--that support several species of endemic and endangered Hawaiian birds and plants such as the Hawaiian Stilt (ae‘o), Hawaiian Coot (‘alae ke‘oke‘o), Hawaiian Moorhen (‘alae ‘ula), Ruddy Turnstone (‘akekeke), Sanderling (hunakai), Pacific Golden-Plover (kolea), Wedge-tailed Shearwater (‘ua‘u kani), and the Hawaiian fern, Ihi’Ihi; and

 

     WHEREAS, due to the massive loss and degradation of the state's wetland habitats, many native Hawaiian water birds are now recognized as endangered species; and

 

     WHEREAS, the state of Hawai‘i has more endangered species than any other state in the union; and

 

     WHEREAS, the total state population for the endangered Hawaiian Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus sandvicensis), or ‘alae ‘ula, is estimated at only 300; and

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii Kai Drive Wetland on O‘ahu is an important feeding and nesting site for the ‘alae ‘ula that supports a population of nine birds; and

 

     WHEREAS, the ‘alae ‘ula that feed and nest at the Hawaii Kai Drive Wetland in Maunalua Bay face a number of threats, including loss of habitat due to development, and predation by dogs, rats, mongoose, cats, and cattle egrets; and

 

     WHEREAS, residential development on Hawaii Kai Drive near Hawea Heaiu, threatens the endangered resident population of ‘alae ‘ula inhabiting the area; and

 

     WHEREAS, the development carried out by the landowner in June 2009 led to the bulldozing of the buffer to the wetland, where the endangered ‘alae ‘ula feed and nest; and

 

     WHEREAS, the completion of an environmental assessment of the development may have brought to light the importance of the area to and impact of the development on the endangered ‘alae ‘ula; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2010, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to require an environmental assessment for any project or potentially harmful action that would negatively impact the Hawaii Kai Drive Wetland and Spring and the Hawea Heiau area in Hawaii Kai, Oahu; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

DLNR; Environmental Assessment; Development in Hawaii Kai