Kaho`olawe Reserve Commission Holds Public Meeting on Maui

Map of Kahoolawe, courtesy KIRC.

By Sonia Isotov

The Kaho’olawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC) will hold their next meeting on Maui on October 27, and the public is invited to attend.

Members of the Kaho`olawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC) will convene their October meeting at 9:00 a.m., Thursday, October 27, 2011 at the Kalana O Maui Building, Mayor’s Conference Room, 200 South High St, 9th floor, Wailuku, Hawaii. Meetings are normally held on Oahu.

The main agenda items to be discussed include: review of various task force assignments, i.e. budget and finance, capital improvement projects, and the Hanakupono task force. Discussion will begin regarding the upcoming 2012 legislative session, and pending legal cases. The meeting agenda is available for viewing and downloading at http://www.kahoolawe.hawaii.gov.

Michele McLean, Deputy Planning Director, County of Maui is currently serving as KIRC Board Chair. Photo courtesy of KIRC.

KIRC Commissioners are Chairperson Michele McLean (County of Maui); Vice Chairperson Amber Nāmaka Whitehead (Protect Kahoolawe Ohana) and members William J. Aila (Chair, Board of Land and Natural Resources, State of Hawaii), Jr.; C. Kaliko Baker; Colette Y. Machado (Office of Hawaiian Affairs); and Ka`iulani Murphy (Native Hawaiian Organizations). Michael Naho`opi, KIRC Executive Director, will also be in attendance.

The legislature created the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC) to manage the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve while it is held in trust for a future Native Hawaiian sovereign entity. The KIRC uses the federal funds designated for state responsibilities in the restoration effort. The KIRC is administratively attached to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Part of KIRCs responsibilities include designating the permitted trolling schedule for waters surrounding Kaho’olawe. For October, the weekend of October 15-16 is the next weekend that trolling is permitted inside these waters. All vessels must register annually with the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission prior to Reserve Access and Catch Reports must be filed with the KIRC following each access for all wishing to participate in the Reserve’s Open Waters schedule. The schedule for the rest of the year is available on the KIRC website at http://www.kahoolawe.hawaii.gov.

Meetings of the Kaho`olawe Island Reserve Commission are open to the public. Individuals wishing to provide testimony on agenda items are requested to submit 10 copies of their testimony to the executive director at 811 Kolu Street, Suite 201, Wailuku, HI 96793, or by fax to (808) 243-5885, at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting. Persons wishing to testify orally may do so at the meeting and be limited as directed by the KIRC chair.

For more information, call 808.243.5020 or visit http://www.kahoolawe.hawaii.gov.