Public comments sought for draft Honolua to Honokōhau Management Plan

Public comments are due Sept. 9 on a draft environmental assessment for the Honolua to Honokōhau Management Plan, a project by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources State Parks Division to help with planning for the 244-acre coastline on the north shore of West Maui.

Located about 10 miles north of Lahaina, the area covers a four-mile stretch of coastline makai of Honoapiʻilani Highway. It’s one of the last remaining undeveloped expanses of its kind on Maui, and it includes Līpoa Point, Kulaokaʻeʻa and Keoneheleleʻi Beach.

The area is “home to abundant marine life, terrestrial plants, wildlife, cultural resources and ocean recreation,” according to a project description posted in The Environmental Notice. “The area has grown in popularity and use over the years, presenting challenges for future management and protection of natural and cultural resources.”

The state purchased the property in 2014. Following public acquisition of the land, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources prepared a plan to guide management of the area, including its environmental, cultural and recreational resources.

The management plan addresses issues such as public access, environmental protection and facility needs in the context of climate change. It’s intended as a framework for understanding the Honolua to Honokōhau area, and it offers “a set of guiding principles, strategies, actions and indicators for achieving the area’s vision as identified by stakeholders, agencies, and the broader community,” according to the project description.

The aim is for the plan to articulate a compelling vision for the area and remain in place until 2040, and it is intended to provide:

• Sound guidance for public policy decisions.
• A road map for plan implementation.
• A foundation for ongoing environmental stewardship.

The plan should work with the Honolua-Mokulēi‘a Marine Life Conservation District Conservation Action Plan to provide a comprehensive management strategy for both land and marine areas.

The project’s planning consultant is Planning Consultants Hawaii LLC, located in Wailuku. Public comments can be submitted to Michael Summers via email at msummers@planningconsultantshawaii.com.