Scenic Historic Resources Inventory Mapping Methodology

MAUI COUNTY GENERAL PLAN 2030

Scenic & Historic Resources

Inventory & Mapping Methodology Reports

June, 2006

INDEX

• Scenic Resources Inventory & Mapping Methodology Report

• Historic Resources Inventory & Mapping

Methodology Report


Scenic Resources Inventory & Mapping Methodology

JUNE, 2006

MAUI COUNTY GENERAL PLAN


Prepared for:

Maui County Long-Range Planning Division One Main Plaza 2200 South High Street, Suite 335 Wailuku, Hawaii 96793

Prepared by:

Chris Hart & Partners, Inc. 1955 Main Street, Suite 200

Wailuku, Hawaii 96793 808/242-1955

Scenic Resources Maui County Inventory & Mapping Methodology General Plan 2030


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction....................................................................................................................... 1 Study Objectives................................................................................................................ 2 Description of Methodology............................................................................................. 2 Project Approach .............................................................................................................. 4

Step One: Identify Views and Document Using GPS ..............................................................................5 Step Two: Describe View Content and Character; .................................................................................6

Classify as Similar/Typical or Unique ...................................................................................6 Step Three: Document Views Classified in the ..........................................................................................7

Maui Coastal Scenic Resources Study (1990)........................................................................7 Step Four: Evaluate Views Based on 1981 Alaska and............................................................................8

Scenic America 1996 Methodologies .....................................................................................8 Step Five: Rate Views (Exceptional, Important, Not Important).............................................................9 Step Six: Classify Corridor (Urban, Rural, Agricultural, Natural).......................................................9 Step Seven: Rate Corridor (Exceptional, High, Medium, Low).................................................................9 Step Eight: Develop Scenic Resource Maps............................................................................................10

Deliverables ..................................................................................................................... 10

Appendices Appendix A – Scenic & Historic Inventory Data and Resource Maps

Appendix B – Scenic Quality Rating and Evaluation Form

Appendix C State of Alaska Scenic Resources and Management Strategy

Appendix D Scenic America, Technical Publication, “Evaluating Scenic Resources”

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INTRODUCTION The island of Maui is world famous for its beautiful scenic resources. These resources are diverse and include developed and undeveloped sections of shoreline, tropical rainforests, rugged valleys, cliffs, and jagged peaks, vast open spaces, historic towns and villages surrounded by productive agricultural land, and panoramic Pacific Ocean views. On clear days the Big Island is visible from Haleakala; and from the south and west shores Molokini, Kahoòlawe, Lanaì, and Molokaì are spectacularly close. Maui’s beauty enriches the quality of life for residents and serves as a primary visitor attraction. However, the dramatic growth of the visitor industry, and subsequent urbanization to support it, has dramatically impacted the island’s scenic resources. Over the past two decades, development has been approved that has blocked views to the ocean shoreline, created visual clutter along State and County roadways, and produced shoddy urban sprawl conditions on agricultural lands that once separated distinct country town communities. Scenic resources, like other valuable natural resources, require a management strategy to protect the resource from being unnecessarily depleted. Lands rich in scenic resource value are often the same lands that are in high demand for recreational, resort, and residential uses. Many of our State and County roadways and State, County, and Federal parks offer dramatically scenic coastal, mountain, and open space views. These views are “public” resources and are owned by Maui County and Hawaiì residents, as well as, citizens of the United States. There currently exists a network of Federal, State, and County laws that establish the regulatory authority and responsibility to protect coastal scenic resources from development. The most important State law is the Hawaii Coastal Zone Management Act (HCZMA), which was enacted by the State Legislature in 1977. This law incorporated the existing County Special Management Area’s (SMA’s) as geographical areas that would be subject to Federal and State coastal zone management policies and objectives. One objective of the law is to “protect, preserve, and, where desirable, restore or improve the quality of coastal scenic and open space resources”. Within the SMA, this translates into the requirement that all development be scrutinized for impact on scenic and open space resources. Unfortunately, these same protections do not currently exist for scenic resources outside the SMA. This report was sanctioned by the County of Maui’s Department of Planning in support of the General Plan 2030 update. Its purpose is to identify “scenic roadway corridors” based on an inventory and ranking of public views from major State and County roadways. This information will be utilized to develop General Plan policies and tools to better protect the island’s scenic resources for future generations.

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STUDY OBJECTIVES The study seeks to accomplish the following objectives:

1. Identify and inventory Maui’s inland and coastal scenic and open space resources using digital photography and Geographic Positioning Systems (GPS);

2. Describe and rank the scenic resources using prescribed standards and practices;

3. Map the scenic resources using Geographic Information Systems (GIS);

4. Identify and map the island’s Scenic Roadway Corridors; and

5. Develop policies to be incorporated into the General Plan that will better protect these

resources for future generations. This report compliments and expands prior work done on Maui in the area of coastal scenic resource management. The Maui Coastal Scenic Resources Study prepared by Environmental Planning Associates Inc., August 1990, continues to be a valuable resource for land use decision makers. DESCRIPTION OF METHODOLOGY The following two seminal scenic resource studies contributed significantly to this project:

1. State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources, 1981, scenic resource and management study along the George Park’s Highway, Alaska. This study provides a well-documented and innovative strategy for describing, evaluating, and managing scenic resources along one of Alaska’s most spectacular highways.

2. Scenic America, 1996, technical publication entitled “Evaluating Scenic Resources”.

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The Alaska study offers several useful definitions that are particularly useful for describing and evaluating scenic resource values. The definitions utilized in the present study include:

• Land Sky Interface – Addresses the visual expression of the horizon, or the edge between land and sky. Land-Sky interface is most highly valued when displaying diverse shapes and forms.

• Landform – Addresses the unit’s topographic expression, such as plains, valleys, and

mountains. Diversity of expression is highly valued.

• Land Cover – Refers to the character of the land surface. This is generally a type of vegetation community but may also include other surface types. Visually pleasing colors, patterns, and textures are highly valued.

• Waterform – Addresses the role of water in the landscape. Diversity of expression is

highly valued.

• Surprise – Surprise is a sudden, unexpected view revealed through a change in the highway character (curves, topography, vegetation). This element of surprise adds to the richness, aesthetic value, and diversity of the roadway experience.

• Clutter – The types, amounts, and visual impacts of highway-related objects such as

signs, right-of-way fencing, power lines, and lighting. Because of their foreground location, visual implications are significant.

• Unique Visual Element – Unique visual elements are certain outstanding landscape

features, landmarks, and scenes. On Maui such elements might include the Iao Needle, Molokini, and unique views of Haleakala.

• Point of View – The position of the viewer relative to the surrounding landscape. Three

possible points of view exist: superior position, equal position, inferior position, and variable position.

• Spatial Expression – The manner in which the (foreground) topography and/or

vegetation create impressions of enclosure, semi-enclosure or openness.

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The following additional definitions were utilized from the Scenic America publication. They include:

• Magnitude – The prominence, abundance, or intensity of a resource within a bioregion; and other descriptors include variety, diversity, vividness, even expansiveness.

• Distinctiveness – The relative scarcity or representatives of a resource within its

bioregion or landscape district; other descriptors include the character of rarity, one of a kind resource.

• Intactness – The condition of a resource; the degree of natural and cultural integrity of

the resource and, conversely, the degree of man-made alteration incompatible with it; other descriptors include harmony or, conversely, disturbance, eyesores, intrusions, blight.

• Draw – How interesting or, conversely, how dull a landscape feature is; includes

resident’s values about community identify or significance, as well as tourist, educational, and economic factors identified as important for drawing visitors.

Together, these terms provide a useful basis by which scenic resources can be analyzed, described, and ranked.

PROJECT APPROACH The primary purpose of this study is to inventory, rate, and map scenic views from major public roadways and then to designate “Scenic Roadway Corridors” for those stretches of roadway with the very highest scenic resource values as identified by the inventory. This process was conducted in eight steps as shown in the following process diagram: The scenic resource maps were developed using GIS. These maps identify scenic views and “Scenic Roadway Corridors” for those stretches of roadway with the very highest scenic resource values. The scenic resource maps will be incorporated by reference into scenic resource policies and regulations developed by the community as expressed in the General Plan. The project approach is further described in the following diagram:

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STEP ONE

Inventory views usingGPS and Photographic

Analysis

STEP TWO

Describe view contentand character; classify

as similar/typical orunique

STEP THREE

Determine if classifiedin Maui Coastal Scenic

Resources Study(1990)

(view type; distictive,noteworthy)

STEP FOUR

Evaluate views basedon 1981 Alaska &

Scenic America 1996Methodologies

STEP FIVE

Evaluate views(exceptional, important,

not important)

EVALUATION & RATING CRITERIA

1981 Alaska Scenic America1996

Land sky interface MagnitueLandform DistinctivenessLand Cover IntactnessWaterform DrawSurpriseClutterUnique Vis Element

STEP SIX

Classify CooridorUrban, Rural,

Agricultural, Natural

STEP EIGHT

Develop ScenicResource Maps

STEP SEVEN

Rate Corridor

STEP ONE: IDENTIFY VIEWS AND DOCUMENT USING GPS The project’s primary scope was to document inland and coastal scenic resources and open space along major State and County Roadways within each region of Maui. The major roadways surveyed include:

Region State / County Roadway (s) Wailuku-Kahului: Kaahumanu Avenue

Waiehu Beach Road (380) High Street Main Street Vineyard Street Market Street

Paia-Haiku: Baldwin Avenue (390) East Maui: Hana Highway (36, 360) West Maui: Honopiilani Higway (30) Kihei-Makena Piilani Highway (31)

North Kihei Road (31) Up Country Highway 37

The inventory encompassed a comprehensive photographic documentation of characteristic landscapes and scenic features within each study area. The photographic documentation also included photographs of scenic impacts, degradations, and problems. Once a photo was taken,

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the site coordinates and direction of the primary photo was recorded using a GPS. Thereafter, the view content was described and an evaluation and rating of the overall scenic quality was conducted on a form (see: Step 2) prepared by the Consultant.

STEP TWO: DESCRIBE VIEW CONTENT AND CHARACTER;

CLASSIFY AS SIMILAR/TYPICAL OR UNIQUE The view content and character was recorded using the form below. Data recorded included: 1) view content, 2) view similarity, 3) point of view, 4) spatial expression, and 5) view obstructions. Description of View 1 View Content (circle many) 2 View Similarity (circle one)

urban rural agricultural natural Urban Park Rural Park Sugar Cane Mountain

Is the view similar to nearby views in the corridor, or unique?

Industrial Rural Residential Pineapple Stream

High Rise Country Town Diversified Ag Coastline Similar/Typical

Low Rise Historic Bldg Industrial Ocean /Horizon Unique

Large Commercial Historic Structure Historic Bldg Forest

Historic Bldg Other Historic Structure Open Space Historic Structure Other Other Other 3 Point of View superior equal inferior variable 4 Spatial Expression enclosed semi-encl open variable 5 Obstructed Views Is this a prime example of an obstructed view Yes No Obstructions: Urban Signs Utilities Transportation Bld Enclosure Natural Vegetation Topography This information provided the basis for the classification of roadway corridors as Urban, Rural, Agricultural, or Natural. The data, once entered into a database and linked to GIS, can be queried and analyzed. For example, points along public roadways where visual clutter and obstructions were observed could be queried and mapped. This information will be

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helpful in developing policies to mitigate the impact of public utilities, and other obstructions, that commonly impact scenic resources. Likewise, all points where open space agricultural views were observed could be queried and mapped to identify areas of the island that still retain an agricultural landscape.

STEP THREE: DOCUMENT VIEWS CLASSIFIED IN THE MAUI COASTAL SCENIC RESOURCES STUDY (1990) The Maui Coastal Scenic Resources Study prepared by Environmental Planning Associates Inc., August 1990, provides an inventory of coastal scenic resources from public viewing points and from coastal highways. The area covered by the study included Wailuku to Paia, Maalaea to Makena, and Lahaina to Kapalua. The resources classified included:

• landforms; • coastal views; • mauka views; • open space; and • sites of natural beauty.

These resources were rated and mapped. Sites with a highly visual impactive scene were rated “Distinctive” whereas scenes determined to be significant but not distinctive in visual impact were determined to be “Noteworthy”. The present study inventories these scenic resources in order to document change over time.

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MCSRS MCSRS view? Yes No Rating Distinctive Noteworthy Classification Land Forms Coastal Views Mauka Views Open Space Sites of Natural Beauty

STEP FOUR: EVALUATE VIEWS BASED ON 1981 ALASKA AND SCENIC AMERICA 1996 METHODOLOGIES The evaluative criteria used in the present study were derived from a 1981 study of the scenic resources along the George Park’s Highway, Alaska, and from a technical publication prepared by Scenic America in 1996. Visual quality ratings were based on the following 11 factors: Land sky interface, landform, land cover, waterform, surprise, clutter, unique visual element, magnitude, distinctiveness, intactness, and draw. The rating system is based on a scale of 1 – 3, with 3 being the highest scenic quality rating and 1 being the lowest.

Scenic Quality: Criteria Evaluation and Rating Rated Not Rated Circle one Land Sky Interface 3 2 1 Circle one 1978 Alaska Landform 3 2 1 Circle one Land Cover 3 2 1 Circle one Waterform 3 2 1 Circle one Surprise 3 0 Circle one Clutter 3 2 1 Circle one Unique Visual Elements 3 2 1 Circle one Magnitude 3 2 1 Circle one Scenic America Distinctiveness 3 2 1 Circle one Intactness 3 2 1 Circle one Draw 3 2 1 Circle one Rating Exceptional Important Not Important Circle one CHP

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STEP FIVE: RATE VIEWS (EXCEPTIONAL, IMPORTANT, NOT IMPORTANT) The overall quality of the scenic resource was rated 1) Exceptional, 2) Important, or 3) Not Important. These ratings were based on the overall significance of the resource relative to the above-referenced factors. Views that received the highest quality rating, i.e. (3), on at least four or more factors, were generally rated exceptional views. Important views generally scored 3 on at least one factor. Exceptional views typically had high scores on the following: Land Sky Interface, Unique Visual Element, Magnitude, Distinctiveness, and Intactness. STEP SIX: CLASSIFY CORRIDOR (URBAN, RURAL, AGRICULTURAL, NATURAL) Corridors were classified as Urban, Rural, Agricultural, and Natural based on the general pattern of land uses and landscape character types within the corridor. Corridors were divided into geographical assessment units or districts based on such factors as natural boundaries, a break in the general character of the land uses or development, or a noticeable change in the character of the corridor, i.e. a change from a natural landscape to an agricultural landscape. An example of a geographic unit or district includes Wailuku-Waikapu and Waikapu-Maalaea. Waikapu serves as a break in the overall character of the landscape as one travels south from Wailuku to Maalaea. While the landscape is primarily a mix of urban and agricultural uses from Wailuku to Waikapu the open character is compressed by the country town character of Waikapu and then dramatically expands south of Waikapu becoming dominated by open agricultural uses and expansive Pacific Ocean views beyond Maalaea. STEP SEVEN: RATE CORRIDOR (EXCEPTIONAL, HIGH, MEDIUM, LOW) Each roadway corridor was rated exceptional, high, medium, or low based on its overall scenic resource value. Corridors with exceptional or high scenic resource values were typically in areas that expressed dramatic and diverse resource values consistently throughout the corridor. These corridors are typically in a natural condition and unmarked by development. Corridors with medium or low scenic resource values are generally in areas where the scenery is less dramatic and urban encroachment is more significant. However, even within highly urbanized corridors with relatively low scenic resource values there are exceptional and important scenic views. These views are especially important for their value since they provide visual relief and enhance the quality of the built environment making urban areas more livable.

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STEP EIGHT: DEVELOP SCENIC RESOURCE MAPS Two sets of scenic resource maps were developed using GIS. These maps identify scenic views and “Scenic Roadway Corridors” for those stretches of roadway with the very highest scenic resource values. The fieldwork data pertaining to view inventories and view ratings were recorded in a Microsoft Access database. The GPS points recorded during fieldwork were converted to a GIS shapefile (point data) and were linked to the database through the GIS map interface. Digital photographs from the fieldwork study were organized and referenced by location in the database. The different data forms were arranged so that photographs and data regarding the recorded scenic resources were hyperlinked in the GIS maps. Corridors with “exceptional” and “high” resource values were classified “Scenic Resource Corridors”. The project’s scenic resource maps will be incorporated by reference into scenic resource policies and regulations developed by the community as expressed in the General Plan. DELIVERABLES The following products were delivered to the County of Maui’s, Department of Planning, Long-range Division:

• CD’s containing the Scenic Inventory and Resource Maps. Viewing of data and photographs on the CD requires ArcView.

• Maps at varying scales to be printed from the CDs. Wall maps up to 36” by 52” are

suitable for presentations.

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Appendix A – Scenic & Historic Inventory

Data and Resource Maps


Appendix B – Scenic Quality

Rating and Evaluation Form


Appendix C

State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources, 1981 Scenic Resources and Management Strategy


Appendix D

Scenic America, Technical Publication, “Evaluating Scenic Resources”, 1996



Historic Resources Inventory & Mapping Methodology

JUNE, 2006

MAUI COUNTY GENERAL PLAN


Prepared for:

Maui County Long-Range Planning Division One Main Plaza 2200 South High Street, Suite 335 Wailuku, Hawaii 96793

Prepared by:

Chris Hart & Partners, Inc.

1955 Main Street, Suite 200 Wailuku, Hawaii 96793

808/242-1955

Historic Resources Maui County Inventory & Mapping Methodology General Plan 2030


TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................. 1

STUDY OBJECTIVES..................................................................................................... 2

DESCRIPTION OF METHODOLOGY ........................................................................ 2

DELIVERABLES ............................................................................................................. 3

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Introduction Maui is an island rich in history, culture, and traditions. The early Hawaiians came to these islands over a thousand years ago by voyaging canoes from the islands of Polynesia. They brought with them their unique language, traditions, and lifestyles and struggled through many years of toil and hardship to settle these lands. Pre-contact Hawaii was a thriving and complex island society with a system of government, laws, language, arts, and traditions that rivaled other Polynesian island communities. Maui’s culture and lifestyle today is rooted in things Hawaiian – the Aloha spirit, the elegance of the language, the hula, surfing, and the beauty of the land and its Hawaiian people. Modern Hawaii is a mosaic of peoples of all origins and backgrounds brought together by changing circumstances. The Haoles, or Caucasians, first came to Hawaii as European discoverers and adventures using modern tools of navigation and sailing to map uncharted waters. Europeans, primarily Americans, ventured to Hawaii as traders of sandalwood, whalers, and shortly thereafter as missionaries. Around these robust economic activities developed small towns to provide goods and services. Hawaiians, whom had migrated from rural villages in search of economic opportunities, and American immigrants, transients, and missionaries, comprised these growing communities. American institutions, traditions, and culture became rooted in Hawaii during this rapidly changing period. American entrepreneurism and capitalism produced tremendous change to modern Hawaii’s physical and cultural landscape. The sugar and pineapple industries brought thousands of industrious immigrant labors from China, Japan, Portugal, Korea, and the Philippines to work in the fields. These hard working peoples quickly assimilated, opened their own businesses and cultural institutions, and established themselves as important contributors to the Hawaii experience. Modern Hawaii is expressed in its diverse people and the legacy of those that came before. The purpose of this study is to help preserve the legacy of our forefathers by documenting important archaeological, cultural, and historic sites that have been passed from one generation to another and that collectively comprise the Maui experience.

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Study Objectives This study seeks to accomplish the following three (3) objectives:

1. Map State and National Registered Historic Sites using Geographic Information Systems (GIS);

2. Identify, photograph, and map important historic and cultural sites, using digital

photography and Geographic Positioning Systems (GPS), and to create a highly expandable GIS database so that additional sites can be recorded in the future; and

3. Link existing historic and cultural resource studies to GIS maps so that these

studies become more accessible and easier to use.

Description of Methodology

This study was conducted with cooperation and assistance from the Maui office of the State Historic Preservation Division. The State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) provided a list of State and National Registered Historic Sites on Maui. This list identified the following:

• Site Number; • Site Name; • Tax Map Key; and • Date of State and National Register (See: Appendix No. 1, “State and National

Registered Historic Sites”). The SHPD provided detailed information from their files on several of these sites. In addition, the Cultural Resources Management Plan (CRMP) for Maui County (May, 1984) was utilized to provide a summary description of each of these sites. The data collected on State and National Registered Sites were recorded in a Microsoft Access 2003 database. The Tax Map Keys (TMKs) recorded for each historic site were converted to a GIS shapefile (polygon data) and were linked to the database through the GIS Map Interface. The resultant GIS map layer identifies Maui’s State and National Registered Historic Sites by TMK, and provides the following data for each site: 1) the site number, 2) the site name, 3) date of State and National Registry, 4) and a summary description of the site. During the fieldwork phase of the Scenic Resources Inventory & Mapping Project, additional data were collected on historic and cultural sites. GPS points recorded during fieldwork were converted to a GIS shapefile (point data) and were linked to the Scenic

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Historic Resources Maui County Inventory & Mapping Methodology General Plan 2030 Resources database through the GIS map interface. Digital photographs of the sites were organized and referenced by location in the database. The different data forms were arranged so that the photographs and data regarding the recorded historic resources could be hyperlinked to the GIS maps. The Historic and Cultural Site GIS map layer is highly expandable so that overtime a more complete coverage of these resources can be accomplished. An important objective of the study was to link existing historic and cultural resource studies and plans to the GIS map interface so that this information could be more accessible to resource managers and decision makers. The following studies were utilized for this purpose:

• The Trust for Public Land, with the assistance of Bay Pacific Consulting. February 1998. East Maui Resource Inventory. Prepared for the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program National Park Service, U.S. Department of Interior.

• The Cultural Resources Management Plan for Maui County (May, 1984).

• State and National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Forms.

• Maui County Community Plans, Sections Relating to Historic and Cultural

Resources (Wailuku-Kahului, Kihei-Makena, Paia-Haiku, Makawao-Pukalani-Kula, West Maui, Hana).

These data sources provide a thorough discussion of State and National Registered Historic sites, East Maui’s traditional districts (Moku), as well as County goals, policies, and objectives with respect to cultural resource management. Relevant information from these studies is hyperlinked to a GIS layer of Maui’s traditional districts, and a layer identifying the County’s two historic districts. Both layers were provided by the Department of Planning’s Long-range Division. The available product provides resource managers, planners, and decision makers with an effective tool to make more informed decisions regarding future cultural resource management policies.

Deliverables The following products were delivered to the County of Maui’s, Department of Planning, Long-range Division:

• CDs containing the Historic and Cultural Resource Inventory and Resource Maps. Viewing of data and photographs on the CD requires Arc View.

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• Maps at varying scales to be printed from the CDs. Wall maps up to 36” by 52” are suitable for presentations.

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Scenic Historic Resources Inventory Mapping Methodology

Documents

Transcript of Scenic Historic Resources Inventory Mapping Methodology