Post by L Roebuck on Jul 24, 2006 13:55:01 GMT -5
KAUAI News: Maha‘ulepu access an evolving process
by Adam Harju - THE GARDEN ISLAND
Conservation group Malama Maha‘ulepu is working to protect the area between Poipu and Kipu Kai and is becoming increasingly savvy at negotiating with different groups, both in and out of the public eye.
Increased restraints on access to Maha‘ulepu by Grove Farm worries the group and adds urgency to the need to have discussions on the future of the area.
Myles Shibata, president of the Grove Farm Land Corp., says the company is always thoughtful when going through the process of adding developments to its land.
“We have not implemented any action without discussions with those who use the area,” Shibata said. “We have friendly meetings and discussions and we stay in touch with them.”
President of Malama Maha‘ulepu David Chang concurs.
“We’re talking to the company, we are trying to work with them,” he said. “There is no war or battle going on.”
Shibata said the yellow gate on Weliweli Road was installed to stop vandalism and the dumping of derelict cars.
“We were receiving complaints from community
members and lessees about unsafe and illegal activities going on out there,” Shibata said.
“Our intention is to meet with community groups, lessees and users to make sure we coordinate and continue to allow access in a manner that is safe for everyone.”
Besides the Malama group’s presence in the area, Grove Farm has several leases with farmers who grow corn, and a relatively new crop to the area, kalo or taro. There is also a rock quarry operated by the Glover Co.
The area used to be solely sugar cane fields.
Grove Farm was founded in 1896 by George Wilcox, and quickly became Kaua‘i’s largest sugar plantation. Grove Farm purchased the 1,200 Maha‘ulepu acres from the Koloa Sugar Co. in the late 1940s.
The company shifted away from sugar cane production in 1975 and refocused on developing its vast landholdings. Some of those projects include the Kukui Grove Shopping Center and housing developments in the Puhi area.
Hurricane Iniki in 1992 wiped out many Grove Farm efforts, leaving the company severely in debt.
Grove Farm struggled financially until America Online co-founder Steve Case purchased it in 2001 for $26 million. Case has declined to comment whether there are any plans for the Maha‘ulepu area.
“There have always been long-term planning ideas out there,” said Shibata. “But the conditions continue to change, and the priorities right now are to focus on our current projects.”
Malama Maha‘ulepu coordinator Beryl Blaich credits those changing conditions for hindering development plans for the Maha‘ulepu.
“Changes within the company have caused plans to stay in flux and then new plans to emerge,” she said. “The point of Malama Maha‘ulepu is to act in the community interest before the landowner has invested a great deal of time into any plan.”
The Malama group has become increasingly sophisticated in its efforts to preserve the area over the last three decades. A core group of 25 members handles the day-to-day business and a list of 75 volunteers is available to draw upon.
Blaich said today’s Malama group differs from the two before as those groups challenged specific proposals.
“We are looking at a plan for conservation,” she said.
Malama regularly produces newsletters and sends them to decision makers.
“It’s very important for our Congressional delegation to know what is occurring out here,” she said.
Chang said he would like to see Maha‘ulepu designated as a national refuge seashore.
“It is not very hard to achieve all we have to do is ask one of the senators,” Chang said. “We asked Sen. Inouye’s office to do a (feasibility) study about four months ago.”
One change in the last several years added momentum to the conservation effort in the Maha‘ulepu.
The area’s limestone sinkhole was designated critical habitat for two endangered species in 2003. The eyeless wolf spider and one of its prey, a shrimp-like eyeless amphipod, were discovered to exist only on Kaua‘i, and specifically in the cave system at the sinkhole.
Some 272 acres in the Koloa area were designated critical habitat in 2003. The original proposal in 2002 for thousands of acres to be set aside for the two species was challenged by private property rights advocates.
They were able to convince federal officials that economic hardship would ensue with the designation of so large an area.
Grove Farm lent its voice claiming the designation would hinder its development plans. A letter sent to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that year by Grove Farm chief executive officer David Pratt states the designation would be as damaging to Grove Farm as 1992’s Hurricane Iniki.
“Grove Farm sent letters that are in the public record claiming the proposed habitat would incur economic losses for them because they had planned a 250-room hotel at coastal Maha‘ulepu and the mill area was envisioned as a commercial and light industrial zone,” Blaich said.
The designation was reduced by 94 percent, and instead of the nearly 3,000 acres in the original proposal, was left at 272 acres.
• Tomorrow, in Part 3, National Tropical Botanical Gardens’ director of conservation David Burney talks about the true purpose of the critical habitat designation, and his complicated relationship with both Grove Farm and conservationists opposed to development.
Part 3 also explores just how everyone involved can secure a bright future for Mahaulepu.
• Adam Harju, editor, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 227) or aharju@kauaipubco.com
• Editor’s note: This is Part 2 of a three-part series on the future of Maha‘ulepu on South Shore land owned by Grove Farm. Part 1 discussed the effects man has had on the area and the efforts of Malama Maha‘ulepu, a resident group dedicated to preserving the area.
Article: www.kauaiworld.com/articles/2006/07/24/news/news01.txt
Part 1: Maha‘ulepu a playing field for conservation ideas
Cave dwellers gain protection
by Adam Harju - THE GARDEN ISLAND
Conservation group Malama Maha‘ulepu is working to protect the area between Poipu and Kipu Kai and is becoming increasingly savvy at negotiating with different groups, both in and out of the public eye.
Increased restraints on access to Maha‘ulepu by Grove Farm worries the group and adds urgency to the need to have discussions on the future of the area.
Myles Shibata, president of the Grove Farm Land Corp., says the company is always thoughtful when going through the process of adding developments to its land.
“We have not implemented any action without discussions with those who use the area,” Shibata said. “We have friendly meetings and discussions and we stay in touch with them.”
President of Malama Maha‘ulepu David Chang concurs.
“We’re talking to the company, we are trying to work with them,” he said. “There is no war or battle going on.”
Shibata said the yellow gate on Weliweli Road was installed to stop vandalism and the dumping of derelict cars.
“We were receiving complaints from community
members and lessees about unsafe and illegal activities going on out there,” Shibata said.
“Our intention is to meet with community groups, lessees and users to make sure we coordinate and continue to allow access in a manner that is safe for everyone.”
Besides the Malama group’s presence in the area, Grove Farm has several leases with farmers who grow corn, and a relatively new crop to the area, kalo or taro. There is also a rock quarry operated by the Glover Co.
The area used to be solely sugar cane fields.
Grove Farm was founded in 1896 by George Wilcox, and quickly became Kaua‘i’s largest sugar plantation. Grove Farm purchased the 1,200 Maha‘ulepu acres from the Koloa Sugar Co. in the late 1940s.
The company shifted away from sugar cane production in 1975 and refocused on developing its vast landholdings. Some of those projects include the Kukui Grove Shopping Center and housing developments in the Puhi area.
Hurricane Iniki in 1992 wiped out many Grove Farm efforts, leaving the company severely in debt.
Grove Farm struggled financially until America Online co-founder Steve Case purchased it in 2001 for $26 million. Case has declined to comment whether there are any plans for the Maha‘ulepu area.
“There have always been long-term planning ideas out there,” said Shibata. “But the conditions continue to change, and the priorities right now are to focus on our current projects.”
Malama Maha‘ulepu coordinator Beryl Blaich credits those changing conditions for hindering development plans for the Maha‘ulepu.
“Changes within the company have caused plans to stay in flux and then new plans to emerge,” she said. “The point of Malama Maha‘ulepu is to act in the community interest before the landowner has invested a great deal of time into any plan.”
The Malama group has become increasingly sophisticated in its efforts to preserve the area over the last three decades. A core group of 25 members handles the day-to-day business and a list of 75 volunteers is available to draw upon.
Blaich said today’s Malama group differs from the two before as those groups challenged specific proposals.
“We are looking at a plan for conservation,” she said.
Malama regularly produces newsletters and sends them to decision makers.
“It’s very important for our Congressional delegation to know what is occurring out here,” she said.
Chang said he would like to see Maha‘ulepu designated as a national refuge seashore.
“It is not very hard to achieve all we have to do is ask one of the senators,” Chang said. “We asked Sen. Inouye’s office to do a (feasibility) study about four months ago.”
One change in the last several years added momentum to the conservation effort in the Maha‘ulepu.
The area’s limestone sinkhole was designated critical habitat for two endangered species in 2003. The eyeless wolf spider and one of its prey, a shrimp-like eyeless amphipod, were discovered to exist only on Kaua‘i, and specifically in the cave system at the sinkhole.
Some 272 acres in the Koloa area were designated critical habitat in 2003. The original proposal in 2002 for thousands of acres to be set aside for the two species was challenged by private property rights advocates.
They were able to convince federal officials that economic hardship would ensue with the designation of so large an area.
Grove Farm lent its voice claiming the designation would hinder its development plans. A letter sent to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that year by Grove Farm chief executive officer David Pratt states the designation would be as damaging to Grove Farm as 1992’s Hurricane Iniki.
“Grove Farm sent letters that are in the public record claiming the proposed habitat would incur economic losses for them because they had planned a 250-room hotel at coastal Maha‘ulepu and the mill area was envisioned as a commercial and light industrial zone,” Blaich said.
The designation was reduced by 94 percent, and instead of the nearly 3,000 acres in the original proposal, was left at 272 acres.
• Tomorrow, in Part 3, National Tropical Botanical Gardens’ director of conservation David Burney talks about the true purpose of the critical habitat designation, and his complicated relationship with both Grove Farm and conservationists opposed to development.
Part 3 also explores just how everyone involved can secure a bright future for Mahaulepu.
• Adam Harju, editor, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 227) or aharju@kauaipubco.com
• Editor’s note: This is Part 2 of a three-part series on the future of Maha‘ulepu on South Shore land owned by Grove Farm. Part 1 discussed the effects man has had on the area and the efforts of Malama Maha‘ulepu, a resident group dedicated to preserving the area.
Article: www.kauaiworld.com/articles/2006/07/24/news/news01.txt
Part 1: Maha‘ulepu a playing field for conservation ideas
Cave dwellers gain protection