The La’i’opua 2020 is a small,

Native Hawaiian organization whose mission is to develop “social

infrastructure” for the native Hawai-ian Homestead community and

broader neighboring communities in West Hawaii.

The critical habitat designation

proposes taking more than 1100 acres in the Kealakehe ahupua’a to

include lands own by the Depart-ment of Hawaiian Homes.

Fifty Two acres are leased La'i'opua 2020 to generate revenues

to support the necessary social, edu-cational, recreational, cultural, and

medical services and programs. L2020 Executive Director Bo

Kahui noted that “such action by US Fish & Wildlife will deprive DHHL,

the native Hawaiian Community –our children and our Kupuna and

surrounding neighborhoods the nec-essary social infrastructure to ensure

access to the requisite programs

and services proposed and planned

for our communities.

“It is unfortunate, if not uncon-

scionable, that the economic im-pact analysis provided by the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service chose not to deal with any substantive eco-

nomic costs. We cannot with any precision estimate the costs associ-

ated with mitigating for adverse modification of critical habitat for

the La’i’opua 2020 project and DHHL Hawaiian Homes, but our

guess is that they would be ex-tremely high, on the order of tens

of millions of dollars, Kahui noted”

Negotiating agreements with the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would require tens of thousands of

dollars in consultant fees and would consume an estimated two

years and impact the project start.

Plant preserves would re-

quire land surveying, subdivi-sion, utility and access infra-

structure development, fencing, out planting and continuing

care, invasive species removal and maintenance, and fire pre-

vention. The cost to develop

and implement such plans would be on the order of thou-

sands to several million dollars of initial capital cost, with on-

going expenses of at least $150,000/year, likely in perpe-

tuity. Our La'i'opua homestead

community must “maka ala”, pay attention to this proposed

plan by US F&WL as the criti-cal habitat designation will

impact the La'i'opua 2020 com-munity and commercial center

development, and future home construction for our Ohana.

US Fish and Wildlife proposal takes 18,000 acres in Kona

Critical Habitat Threatens Medical Clinic, Community Center &

DHHL Development

L2020, VOL, QLCC, HHFDC, COH & DHHL Opposes F&WL Plan

On May 15, 2013, US Fish &

Wildlife (F&WL) held its public

hearing to provide information and

receive public testimony related to

the proposed designation of 18,000

acres in Kona for “critical habitat

designation” form Palani road to

Kaupulehu.

Land owners in West Hawaii

attended the hearing opposed the

F&WL “critical habitat designation"

to include stakeholders in the

“Urban District” of Kealakehe and

Keahuolu.

The following landowners testi-

fied to oppose the US F&WL plan:

Jobie Masagatani, Chair DHHL

Bo Kahui, E.D. La'i'opua 2020

Ann Bouslog, Forest City HI

Stan Fufimoto, HHFDC

Thomas Kahulukukui, QLT

Robert Kim, HI Bar Assoc.

Nicole Lui, Lineal Descendant

Many more testified to oppose the F&WL plan. Only one testifier sup-

ported the plan. QLCC stakeholders Kupuna & Keiki expressed concern

and opposed the F&WL plan.

V I L L A G E S O F L A I O P U A M A S T E R A S S O C I A T I O N

NA LEO O LA'I 'OPUA May 2013

Volume 10, Issue 2

Call your Congressional

delegation to oppose

F&WL Plan

Submit your testimony

to F&WL

Use the testimony in-

side this edition, and

follow instructions to

mail or email your testi-

mony

Call VOL office TWF- 9-12

355-8689 for help

Call L2020 M-F 8-5p at

327-1221 for assistance

L2020 ED shares Mana’o

2

VOL Board approve Reso. for Safe Harbors

2

Keoki Carte asks for Kokua

3

6th Annual ASA- Puwalu convene

3

DHHL Aina Mauna Legacy Program

4

VOL Notices 5

Sandwich Isles “Huli Plus” cell program

6

Inside this issue:

May is Lei Day in Hawaii

US Fish &Wildlife Specialist

Jess Ness hears testimony

support memo addressed the

HOST subcommittee and

submitted the VOL Resolu-

tion and Kailapa support memo and expressed con-

cerns of the HOST recom-

mendation of Harbor Safety

Rules.

Kahui expressed that the

closure of the Hilo and Ka-

waihae harbors due to a ship

accident or mishap would

severely affect the homestead

community and further dis-

rupt the community’s trans-portation to seek basic medi-

cal services due to road clo-

sures, similar to the barge fire

which in Hilo Harbor which

closed Kamehameha Hwy

until it was safe to return

home.

Hilo harbor vessel incident

logs from 2002 to 2006 docu-

ment over 26 major harbor

incidents & reveal that cruise

ships have not reported these

significant incidents as such

to the US Coast Guard as

required. In every incident, Hilo tugboats were called to

assist the cruise ships to dock

or depart safely & to facilitate

safe maneuvering of disabled

cruise ships in the harbor.

“The possible event of a

catastrophic cruise ship

’mishap’ in Hilo Harbor,

could close Hilo Harbor for

one week and could possibly

exhaust food and fuel sup-plies and would have severe

economic, social-economic,

environmental impact “ HOST Chair Brad Rim-

mell recommended to the

HOST committee members to

take its subcommittee find-

ings to the community before

making any rule changes.

Kahui highly supported meet-

ing with community leaders.

La'i'opua Village Board Approves Harbor Safety Resolution

Village of La'i'opua Board- Hawaiian Affairs Commit-

tee Chairman Bo Kahui intro-

duced a resolution 05082013– to support and mandate Tug-

Assist for vessels entering

and leaving all State of Ha-

waii Ports. Kahui reported that re-

cently the cruise ships leaving

Hilo port were not utilizing

“tug assistance” to help cut its

operation cost.

In October 2012, Harbors

Ocean Safety Team (HOST) sub-committee convened to

established new baseline rules

related to harbor safety and

ships entering and leaving all

ports in Hawaii.

On May 8, 2013, Bo Ka-

hui, representing the Villages

of La'i'opua Master Associa-

tion joined by Kailapa Hawai-

ian Homestead Association

Critical Habitat Threatens Medical Clinic, Community Center &

Volume 10, Issue 2

“Without out-bound

tug assistance , the

possible event of a

catastrophic cruise

ship ’mishap’ in Hilo

Harbor, could close

Hilo Harbor for one

week and could

possibly exhaust food

and fuel supplies and

would have severe

economic, social-

economic,

environmental impact

“, Kahui notes.

Page 2

Aloha Kakou,

Over the years , I have

been dedicated to our Laiop-

pua community center devel-

opment to bring about “social

infrastructure” which includes

facilities to address our social,

educational, recreational, cul-

tural, and medical services and

programs for our La'i'opua

homestead community and our

surrounding neighborhoods.

I have been committed to

ensure we, La'i'opua 2020 and

its partners provide the best

service to our homestead

membership and our surround-

ing neighborhood families.

Its important to note that

homesteaders alone cannot

“gate or fence” our project

from our neighbors.

The Kealakehe ahupua’a has

many of our extended families

living outside our community

boundaries and they may re-

quire the services of our pro-

posed community center devel-

opment. To this end, the

La'i'opua Community Center

development will deliver ser-

vices to our La'i'opua home-

stead community and surround-

ing neighborhoods.

As La'i'opua 2020 approach-

es completing our civil design

for the medical clinic and com-

munity center, we continue to

seek the financing to initiate the

installation of our infrastructure

to include the sewer, water,

electrical, roads, lighting, and

parking. To check construction

our status, go to laiopua.org.

Civil Plans Completed & under

County review and approval

Permits approved for Civil Mass

Grading for site prep

Civil Contractor bids are under

evaluation for contract.

Civil work includes installing

sewer, water electrical , roads..

General Contractor selected to

construct medical center

Medical clinic design completed

and construction documents

pending for County approval

Community Center schematic

design complete.

Funding & Financing this project

start-up is ongonig:

1. L2020 raised $4M

2. West Hawaii Clinic raised $5M

3. $9M total leveraged for other

funding opportunities, i.e.. New

Market Tax Credit

La'i'opua Community Center moving forward!!

Bo Kahui, La'i'opua 2020 Executive Director

La'i'opua Community Center

Construction Status

“Community project contin-

ues to move forward with

construction to start soon”

Aloha Kakou o Keoki Carter

kou inoa outreach coordinator

writing in regards to La‘i‘Ōpua

Aupaka Preserve- Kealakehe.

We, Hui La‘au Kama‘āina o La‘i

‘Ōpua, under Hawaii Forest In-

dustry Association (HFIA) are in

our third year working with

DHHL & La'i'opua 2020 to ko-

kua with the restoration efforts in

your area at several Aupaka sites.

Our goal, now in its second

phase, is to safely develop a na-

tive plant area for sharing, educa-

tion, community interaction, and

more. The first phase has been

getting in service roads, trails,

water systems and safety fea-

tures—both for plants and peo-

ple—most importantly fire

breaks and fire protection. The

overlapping second phase project

is being done by bringing in

youth and education groups with

the time and commitment to go

through training with our team, to

learn the difference between

native and non-native plants; and

to work side-by-side with our

team to remove invasive plants—

particularly the highly flammable

fountain grass and aggressive koa

haole that threaten the safety of

our natives species

All this hard work will go up

in smoke, if our most feared dis-

aster happens, fire in the

“dryland forest”. This is a re-

minder that all preserves are no-

smoking areas. In the past year,

there has been evidence of ciga-

rette butts, camp-like fires, actual

fire incidents. Members of our

work team have unexpectedly

come upon people within fenced,

sensitive native plant areas who

were smoking in fire prone areas.

If a fire would to break out of

control here, homes would be

threatened and native la‘au de-

stroyed. Please consider this

tragic misfortune. Our team and

DHHL are bound by the rules of

the Endangered Species Act

Laws. No trespassing signs are

there as a protection to some of

the last remaining natives plants.

On a more positive note, the

student groups have been doing

great foundational work. We are

ready to expand upon those ef-

forts, and assist when your com-

munity is ready to form a māla-

ma ‘āina group. We will continue

to offer education about native

la‘au, and as in the past, give

presentations like those at your

association‘s gatherings, and at

the Civic Center to reach more of

the public. We are not DHHL,

and so are not able to help with

many homeowner issues. Our

commitment is to the vitality and

long lives of native la‘au of Ha-

wai‘i. Please join us with this

humble effort. If there are any

questions, please contact Keoki

Carter (808) 895-5755 and we‘ll

make an effort to get back to you.

Mahalo nui, Keoki Carter

Hui La‘au Kama‘āina La‘i ‘Ōpua asks for Your Kokua!

Critical Habitat Threatens Medical Clinic, Community Center & DHHL Development

Volume 10, Issue 2

Page 3

designation of 18,000 acres in

Kona.

Queen Liliuokalani– Man-

ager Laura Dierenfield ex-pressed serous concerns of

the impact the habitat desig-

nation would have on QLCC

302 acres .

Judiciary Administrator,

Dawn Wes indicated receiv-

ing $9M of State CIP grant to

begin the planning and design

of the new Kona Judiciary

Complex.

F&WL Specialist- James Kwon and Assistant de-

scribed the plan for “critical

habitat designation.” In the

end, many left the Puwalu

with more questions than an-

swers related to the proposal.

and share information. The

planning and development

initiatives include, but not

limited to the following:

La'i'opua Community Cen-

ter Development

Kona Judiciary Complex

FCH- Kamakana Villages

Kealakehe Regional Park

Queen Liliuokalani Plan

Environmental Issues

Sewer Treatment Mitigation

F&WL Critical Habitat

While each presenter pro-vided updates of their respec-

tive projects, the topic of dis-

cussion centered on the Fish

and Wildlife critical habitat

The Villages of La'i'opua

Master Association, La'i'opua

2020, Forest City Hawaii,

and County of Hawaii spon-

sored the 6th Annual Alliance

for a Sustainable Ahupua’a–

Puwalu with over

The 6th ASA-Puwalu focus

on providing information that

attempt to create a community to which we can “live, work,

play, and learn Mauka to

Makai”.

La'i'opua 2020, govern-

ment and community stake-

holders that play a central part

of the regional planning and

development of Kealakehe &

Keahuolu ahupua’a convened

VOL, L2020, FCH & County Sponsors 6th Annual Alliance for a Sustainable Ahupua’a (ASA) – Puwalu

Keoki Carter sharing

“All this hard work

will go up in smoke,

if our most feared

disaster happens, fire

in the “dryland forest” ,

Keoki Carter

Attending the 6th Annual Puwalu

Above, Mayor Billy Kenoi, Councilman

Kanuha, Aunty Elaine Watai

Below, Dawn West,

Judiciary Administrator

Eco-Tourism may help generate income

to support a forest restoration plan

proved by DHHLand is planned to go to the com-

mission in July for approv-

al. For more info Contact Mike Robinson with

DHHL's Land Manage-

ment Division in Hilo at

895-1285. The Environmental Notice

document may be viewed

online at: Hawaii.gov/health/environm ental/oeqc/index.html

If you would like to know

more, go to:

http://dhhl.hawaii.gov/

located between the 4,500- and 9,000-foot elevation

levels.

The program is expected to pay for itself by incorpo-

rating money making

ventures.” The program is

expected to pay for itself by incorporating money-

making ventures.

Revenue-generating activities will include

campgrounds, eco-tourism

endeavors, and up to 20 cabins and redevelopment

of the former Humuula

Sheep Station.” This ven-

ture has not yet been ap-

According to DHHL Land Manager Mike Robinson,

an environmental assess-

ment is being done on DHHL lands. “The mission

of the Aina Mauna Legacy

Program is to protect the

Department of Hawaiian Home Lands' Humuula/

Piihonua area.

Located on both sides of Saddle, Mauna Kea Access

and Keanakolu-Mana

roads, the area extends 19 miles along the Hamakua

Coast and 6 miles in a

mauka-makai direction.

The lands are generally

Department of Hawaiian Home Lands

Āina Mauna Legacy Program

Volume 10, Issue 2

La'i'opua 2020 – Kau i ka Malie Center launched its’ Model Native Ha-

waiian Community, Culture-Based, Technology-Assisted Learning Initiative

with Native Hawaiian Education Act (NHEA) funding. Since opening Janu-

ary 2012 the center has served nearly 2,200 Haumana of all ages, from Kei-

ki to Kupuna—over 60% Native Hawaiian—exceeding the goal set forth in the grant by 144%. These numbers speak to the need for a culture based-

technology center in the Kealakehe community. Here’s ja few Highlights.

The Aupaka Plant Mitigation and Preserve Restoration Project on prop-

erty within the Kealakehe Ahupuaʻa combined multi-media classroom and outside field “living laboratory” lessons. 65 students learned about tradition-

al Hawaiian protocols and modern land management practices in a preserva-

tion and restoration effort combining field study with “hands on learning.”

The Ka Haʻawina ʻIkena Hawaiʻi Project developed, produced, and is implementing in local classrooms and after school programs, Supplemental

Curriculum designed for K - 6 Grade. The Nā Puke Kamaliʻi is a Collection of Bilingual Children’s Books in Hawaiian & English. The Boxed Set con-

tains 12 Illustrated Bilingual Children’s Books and 2 CD’s—a Read Aloud

to Me Audio CD and a CD of Songs that will have the whole family singing

and dancing along. In addition, there is the 12 Big Fun Math Games—Paʻani Makemakika—a Collection of Math Games in Hawaiian & English and a

series of Language Arts and Math Workbooks, 6 in Hawaiian and 6 in Eng-

lish.

The Haleo Hawaiian Language Course in May will graduate 38 commu-

nity members, most are Native Hawaiian, from this beginner course. Emu-

lating the way we learn our first language, the course uses a “Synergistic

Immersion” method that is intuitive and natural.

Digital Media Courses including Computer - Internet Basics, On-Line

Learning—Learn Key, a Skill building resource teaching Microsoft Office,

Word, Excel, connected over 350 adults and kūpuna to the Age of Technol-

ogy.

This is only some of the work being done here at the Malie Center!

—————————Help Wanted ———————

La'i'opua 2020 – Kau i ka Malie Multi-Media

Cultural Center, located on the campus of Kea-

lakehe High School announces an employment opportunity. We are looking for a Program Di-

rector to help us continue the programs de-

scribed in this newsletter. Following 16 months

of foundation building efforts, the Malie Center needs someone energetic and passionate about

education and technology and being of service

to our community. Experience in program de-livery and management, and proficiency with

Microsoft Office, Word and Excel, are some of

the necessary skills. If you have the head and the heart please mail your resume and a letter

of introduction to:

Executive Director, La'i'opua 2020, 74-5595

Luhia St #E5, Kailua Kona, HI 96740.

Critical Habitat Threatens Medical Clinic, Community Center &

Volume 10, Issue 2

Page 5

compliment the new man-

agement contract.. After

serious discussion, the

need to raise the member-

ship dues, high rate of de-

linquency, and the man-

agement cost contributed

to the management con-

sion to postpone the man-

agement contract was due

to the cost to execute the

contract and the current

association delinquency

dues. Most importantly ,

the Board needed to raise

the association dues to

The Village of

La'i'opua Board at its

regular monthly meeting

held May 8, 2013 post-

poned the management

contract to manage the

association common areas

and other duties. The deci-

VOL Board Postpone Management Company Contract

Villages of La'i'opua Master Association-Notices

DCCR Rules & Violations

The Village of La'i'opua Master Associ-

ation Board encourages all lessees to re-

view your new Declarations, Covenants,

Conditions, and Restrictions (DCCR) for

our Village Association. A copy of the

DCCRs can be obtain at the VOL office or

call the office to receive a copy by email.

The VOL Board DCCRs keep our

community safe and maintain our esthetic

& monetary value of our lease properties.

While the VOL Association Board is

responsible for the management of the as-

sociation, each homestead member includ-

ing their Ohana, extended Ohana and

friends must take responsibility for your

Kuleana and inspire your neighbors to

make our community a place to be proud

of.

The VOL will make changes to its en-

forcement and procedural protocols to ad-

dress DCCR violations. If you have any

questions, call the VOL office. Mahalo

Liens Placed on Lessees

La'i'opua Board Treasurer Kapua

Baker’s financial report was re-

viewed by the Board. The Board was

concerned of the high amount of dues

in arrears since the last report in July

2012 to DHHL Commission

The Board will institute pro-

cessing notices to all lessees who are

delinquent in their dues over 6

months or has a delinquency exceed-

ing $500.

The Kanawai procedure adopted

several years ago was a mechanism

to help members and offer a oppor-

tunity to process their delinquency

and resolve their late dues.

The Board respectfully requests

association members to make their

payments before it becomes a bigger

problem.

For assistance contact the office

at 355-8689 to process your pay-

ments.

Mahalo

Illegal & Abandon Vehicles La'i'opua Board would like to inform the

membership of illegal and abandon vehicles.

The Association rules require all vehicles

have a proper vehicle registration certificate

and safety check registration. Your vehicle

shall be in compliance of the County vehicle

registration ordinance for your vehicle to be

valid and operational with in the Villages of

La'i'opua.

The Board requests your cooperation to

properly register your vehicles. In addition, if

your vehicle is inoperable, we seek your sup-

port to dispose of your vehicle to rid the com-

munity of abandon vehicles.

The Association Board will begin a process

to establish a procedure to effectively address

abandon vehicles, un-permitted vehicles, illegal

parking, illegal vehicles as provided in the

homeowner's association Declaration, Cove-

nants Conditions and Restrictions

The Villages of La'i'opua Community As-

sociation Board thanks you for your coopera-

tion and would like to extend its assistance to

all members.

For assistance call the office at 355-8689

ing the review of the plans and

required permits to meet the

County standards and installation

requirements. The Board unani-

mously approved the first group

to receive PV in Village 3.

Maka’i Loa

The VOL Board reviewed and

approved seven lessees to install

Photo Voltaic alternative and re-

newable energy for their homes.

VOL-Design Chair Rudy Ai rec-

ommended Board approval follow-

VOL Board Approves Photo Voltaic for 7 Lessees

tract postponement. Alt-

hough, the contract was post-

poned, the Board will be mon-

itoring the management du-

ties of the association.

VOL– Office Hours T-W-TH

9:00-12:00

PRESORT STANDARD

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

KAILUA-KONA, HI

Permit no 235

Kaniohale Community Association

74-5100 Haleolono Street, Kailua Kona, HI 96740

Return Service Requested

“NA LEO O LA’I’OPUA”

The Voice of La'i'opua

May 2013

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