During the recent primary elections several Kauai Group mem bers hustled to the aid of locally renowned environmentalist can didate Mina Morita in her bid to unseat 12th District State Repre sentative Billy Swain. Our efforts were rewarded when the final tally accorded challenger Morita victory by a margin of a mere 75 votes. It proves once again the difference face to face campaign ing can make; and that the environment is not to be taken for granted here on the Garden Island.
A couple of conservation issues sprung to life recently that helped initiate productive partnering of veterans and budding activists. Kauai County proposed "reconstruction" of a seawall behind the Wailua Golf Course under false pretenses. A private citizen named Judy Dalton investigated and challenged the project. One con sequence of the proposed sea wall would have been to elimi nate the existing beach strip that now allows free passage up and down the coast. The wall itself would have become a major hazard for any fishermen or beach strollers due to its location in the surf zone. By questioning the Army Corps of Engineers about the advisability of the project and the County's justifications, she succeeded in stopping the project because of its many flaws.
Judy has since accepted the Club's invitation to put her tenacity and resourcefulness to work in common cause. Since coming aboard, she has thrown herself into work on an issue that has yet to dawn on the public at large. A 250 foot radio relay tower is proposed for a site on Haupu Ridge near Koloa. A discreditable Environmental Assessment went a long way to providing protec tive coloration for this imposition by making dubious claims of minimal visual impact and spurious assertions of public sup port. It was touted as being necessary for essential public safety communications and facilitating the establishment of a public radio station on Kauai. Conservation Chairperson Steve Perlman, working within the framework of his expertise at the National Tropical Botanical Garden, had already called for a more thorough survey of native and endangered plant and animal spe cies in the site area. Though those concerns were largely allevi ated, we subsequently submitted written testimony to the Board of Land and Natural Resources denouncing the lack of public access to information about this project (no reports were ever available in any public place on Kauai) as well as other irregu larities. Although our pleas were overruled by the board, we feel the day of public reckoning may still be ahead. This issue has been instructive in reinforcing the importance of timely public exposure and the difficulties average citizens have in evaluating professional standards in environmental reports.
Community service projects continue, but one in particular seems hard to sustain. The coral reef monitoring project at Anini Beach Park finds few takers. Perhaps its hard to get people excited about such a fluid "backyard". However, 1997 is the International Year of the Coral Reef. Can you help contribute to a better work ing knowledge of our own unique and fragile gift of the sea?
Finally, a big Mahalo to all the members who did a little extra in 1996 to make our island a little "greener". To all of you who have volunteered at Anini, at Kalalau, the clean-ups, the outings, the hearings and the hustings - you've made a difference you can be proud of. Aloha nui.
The up coming election finds few new candidates for consider ation and long time Treasurer Janis Lyon stepping down from the board. Once again we are faced with the prospect of being in violation of our by-laws which require two more candidates run ning than the number of positions open. Also, from the Chair's perspective, trying to accommodate nine board member's con flicting and busy schedules has proven to be too unwieldy. After discussion of these problems, the board, at our Nov. 23rd meet ing, passed a motion to submit to Kauai Group members two proposed by-law changes for Kauai Group. Essentially the pro posals are to: 1) Lower the board number from nine to seven. 2) Apply for majority approval in cases (as currently exists) where no more candidates are available than for an equal or lesser number of open positions. These amendments are an attempt to honestly face our problems with volunteer recruitment and still foster a more cohesive and functional board. If you have any questions or suggestions about these matters or still want to be on our board please call Rob at 246-8748 before our ballot goes out in mid to late January.
by Lucienne de Naie
It's been a busy quarter for the Maui Group with Excomm elections, a full hiking schedule, a major fundraiser and conservation efforts all going on at once. A full slate of candidates volunteered to run for the 1997 ExComm including some talented newcomers.
OUTINGS:
Group outings have been diverse a vulcanism lecture and guided tour on Haleakala's southwest flank, a visit to a lofty, secluded Tibetan Buddhist sanctuary, access to Maui's watershed areas and their native plants, a coastal bike tour, a service outing to Kaho'olawe, and an educational beachwalk in State Park at Makena. The group also sponsored a hike into the secluded West Maui rain forest along Hana'ula Ridge, a tour of the historic Kahikinui coastline (backroad to Hana), and a full moon nightwalk on the new Lahaina Pali trail stargazing with a local astronomer (all of which proved immensely popular.)
Ten new hike leaders were certified in '96, with another training planned early in '97. Hike leaders will gather in late December at Outing Chair, Lucienne de Naie's East Maui farm to plan the '97 schedule after a morning hike and potluck feast.
The Group is sorry to be losing its multitalented Service Outing Coordinator, biologist Chuck Chimera, due to his new work schedule demands. Chuck's high standards will be kept up by new coordinators Scott Jensen and Scott Splain (we all hope they can cook!).
FUNDRAISING:
A bit of luck and lots of hard work by Maui Group Excomm members and other volunteers resulted in a successful fundraiser at the recent Maui County Fair. In five days, a crew of 20 volunteers was organized by Group Chair, Bob Coffey, into 10 shifts whose efforts earned the Group $1,400. A thank you party for volunteers (all of whom decided they would not seek future employment in the fast food industry) was held December 8th on a secluded beach estate near Makena Beach.
NEED MONEY FOR COLLEGE?
Dr. Marc Shlachter is offering a $3000 college scholarship for the best essay by a high school student on reducing global warming. The original type-written essay must in clude a plan of action, a method to quantify and measure effects, identification of funding, and a means to ensure that the plan is financially self sustaining. Entrants should include their name, name of high school and grade. En tries must be postmarked before March 22, 1997 and mailed to Dr. Marc Shlachter 55-510 Kamehameha Hwy La'ie 96762. He can be reached at (808) 293-8558
MAUI GROUP CONSERVATION REPORT
by Lucienne de Naie
The Maui Group donated $100 in startup funds to Friends of Haleakala National Park. The longneeded support group was organized by former Maui Group Chair, Mary Evanson.
Haleakala Helicopter Flights: David Leese, Lucienne de Naie, Geoffry Naylor and Daniel Grantham spent a day documenting constant helicopter flights and their noise impact on Haleakala Crater. Their video, artfully edited by Grantham included inter views with local environmental and native Hawaiian leaders. It was forwarded by Patsy Mink's staff to the FAA noise regulation committee. It is also shown several times a week on Maui's public access channel. The group hopes to get support from the FAA to curtail or eliminate flights over any part of the National Park.
Dolphin Institute: The Group testified against a proposed 9.5 acre captive dolphin research facility (currently at Kewalo Basin) on county beachpark land. The proposal was turned
down by the County Council after a five hour hearing.
Roadside Pesticides: The Maui Group recently organized a com mittee to convince local government to end roadside pesticide spraying in Maui County. A letter has been drafted to Councilman Nishiki asking that he forward a roadside pesticide bill to the whole council for consideration. A wellresearched position pa per, coordinated by the Group's Pesticide Committee chair, Dave Bourgoin, will also be submitted. There is much public sentiment against roadside spraying in Maui, especially from organic farm ers and parents. The Maui Group will be working with Hawaii Organic Farmers Association (HOFA) and other groups on this issue.
Trails: Group members continue to network with Na Ala Hele and the newly formed Maui branch of the Hawaii Ecotour Association to work for more trail access and responsible use of natural re sources.
Kahakaloa Ridge (West Maui Mtns): A Groupsponsored hike to the area in August resulted in several members expressing shock and outrage to DLNR biologist, Bob Hobdy. The hikers observed newly bulldozed areas of native forest the State was clearing in preparation for planting Slash Pine trees.
Kahului Airport Expansion: Group members continue to monitor the Draft EIS review process. Haleakala National Park was ex cluded from the DEIS, even though it is a scant 20 miles from the site. If the DEIS is accepted by State and Federal officials, a law suit challenging its adequacy is expected.
Ma'alae'a Harbor Expansion: Maui group members are opposed to any expansion plan which would destroy existing coral reefs and impact habitat area of endangered sea turtles. The issue of increased tour boat excursions to overburdened Molokini atoll is also a concern. A coalition of environmental, homeowner and beach-user groups is expected to challenge the plan in court. The Maui Group will decide soon, whether to join the suit.
NO DLNR PENALTIES FOR IFA VIOLATIONS
Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Chair Mike Wilson has confirmed that violations of the permit requirements for the Mauna Kea observatories have in fact occured. However, DLNR apparently has no plans to impose punitive measures against any of the parties (Institute for Astronomy, Subaru, or Gemini).
In his initial investigation of the resulting habitat destruction, ento mologist Dr. Stone, who discovered the violations, said "Failure by DLNR to carry out its own guidelines for use of Mauna Kea Sci ence Reserve will send a message to IfA that they can continue to ignore the mitigative measures agreed to in the EIS and Manage ment Plan and the legal conditions included in the CDUA approval. It will show these documents to be a sham, which IfA can violate with impunity." Dr. Stone's concern has now come true.
If IfA will not abide by the law, and DLNR will not enforce it, then Sierra Club seems to have but one alternative, to seek relief in the courts. We are, of course, still hoping that DLNR will move quickly to carry out its responsibilities.
MORE MASSIVE RADIO TELESCOPES UNCOVERED
Sierra Club uncovered yet another proposal for the summit of Mauna Kea on the Internet. We find it appalling that given a clear pattern of mismanagement, IfA continues to solicit and evaluate additional telescope projects when it cannot even handle its existing respon sibilities. Even more shocking is that some of these projects are of a scale that would impact the mountain many times more than anything we've seen so farat least 94 more telescopes. Japan's LMSA Submillimeter array of up to fifty radio telescopes (each the size of the Keck mirror) required disturbance of as much as four square miles; the National Science Foundation's MMA arrayconsists of at least forty radio antennae (each bigger than the NASA Infrared Telescope); and as many as four additional Keck telescopes will serve as mobile "outriggers" for the existing two.
These new types of radio dish facilities can have major impacts because of the large area required. The radio telescopes are con nected by a gridwork of concrete pads, utility corridors and road ways bulldozed into the landscape. Major visual, cultural, archeo logical, and biological impacts are possible.
With these disclosures, the Club feels that the next phase of plan ning for new facilities has already commenced. The regulating agency, DLNR, did not know about these 94 telescopes and nei ther did the public until the Sierra Club uncovered the secret plans.
ARCHEOLOGICAL WORK STALLED
Archaeologists were supposed to survey undeveloped areas for cultural and archaelogical features by late October. Unfortunately, the investigatgion for burials, shrines and artifacts has been de layed due to consultant errors. The DLNR recently chided IfA for not putting the Management PlanÕs scope of work and aerial map ping commitments in writing.
HIGH TECHNOLOGY STRATEGIC PLAN
Mauna Kea's astronomical industry plays a major role in a High Technology Strategic Plan being prepared for the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board. On November 15th, Sierra Club presented its comments on the fourth draft of this plan, specifically detailing the patterns of mismanagement.
The consultants urged the business community to ÒpromoteÓ carefully and after full discussions with all interested parties. The top down approach has failed on the Big Island in the past and future attempts will likely meet the same fate. Biotechnology, higher education, aquaculture, information services and alternative ener gies were also discussed. In discussing geothermal energy the consultants identified a number of issues that must be dealt with before expansion should proceed: public safety, environmental and social issues, industrialization, growth, respect for indig enous peoples and cultural issues.
It is ironic that the comments made in the plan about what held back large scale geothermal development are the same kinds of issues that could debilitate astronomy's future on Mauna Kea. There is a current perception among some business and govern ment managers that they can take short-cuts, deal exclusively with insiders, and either cajole or stiff-arm the public. That approach will not work on Mauna Keathe mountain is simply too important to too many people. Moreover, that old approach reflects a dying paradigm that has to go, oras with geothermal in Puna or the power plant at Keaholeastronomers and their proponents will be saddled with years of frustration, extraordinary legal and other costs, and a public reputation with which no one living in a small state wants.