Debbie Hecht, land conservation advocate, plans to travel to Honolulu and support legislation to preserve and protect the Big Island’s natural resources.

Hecht provides the following information:

Hawaii Island proposed 98-mile, 2,000-foot coastline buffer zone on all state owned land

Bill to provide a coastline buffer zone to protect the 175-mile long Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail and to preserve the coastline on the Island of Hawaii by establishing a 2,000-foot coastline conservation easement for 98.4 miles of state-owned lands (see Map below)

A 2,000-foot conservation easement coastline buffer zone will help to protect and link numerous cultural sites on Hawaii Island:

1. The historic Ala Kahakai Trail, also known as the King’s Trail, that stretches 175 miles along the coastline from Upolu Point to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park ( www.nps.gov/alka );

2. The Puukohola Heiau National Historic site, a monument to the most renowned king of Hawaii, Kamehameha I and the Mailekini Heiau, and the shark Heiau, Hale o Kapuni Heiau, the submerged ruins of a temple that was once dedicated to them ( www.nps.gov/puhe );

3. Kaloko-Honokohau National Park, cultural sites and the sacred fishponds ( www.nps.gov/haho );

4. Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historic site, the City of Refuge ( www.nps.gov/puho );

5. Coastline route leading to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park ( www.nps.gov/havo )

A 2,000-foot conservation easement coastline buffer zone will provide space for a 175-mile long parallel trail (to the Ala Kahakai Trail).

A “brown trail” that could provide hiking for visitors and residents and a “blue ocean trail” with landing places for canoes and kayaks. These trails could be the basis for an eco-tourism industry on the island of Hawaii and provide jobs for residents.

A 2,000-foot conservation easement coastline buffer zone will protect access to beaches, for fishing, camping, surfing and ocean sports.

A 2,000-foot conservation easement coastline buffer zone will protect the coral reefs from degradation caused by sedimentation from grubbing and grading which has already killed parts of the reef north of Kawaihae and at the Hokulia subdivision in south Kona.

A 2,000-foot conservation easement coastline buffer zone protecting the reef will provide abundant habitat for fish, all ocean species and protect fishing and ocean gathering for generations to come.

A 2,000 foot conservation easement coastline buffer zone will support and be in compliance with, the Kona Community Development Plan (KCDP), a plan by the Kona community where all voices in Kona were considered, which is now part of the Hawaii County Code. A trail will be used by hikers and bicyclists and encourage people to use alternative forms of transportation as provided in the KCDP.

We propose that the state of Hawaii shall establish a 2,000 foot conservation easement buffer zone on all state owned lands that shall comprise a no-build zone (except for necessary park buildings), to be managed for the use and enjoyment of all of the people of Hawaii in perpetuity, so that this land can never be sold, mortgaged, traded or re-zoned, in order to preserve cultural sites, promote sustainable fishing practices, preserve coastline access and promote healthy recreation on the island of Hawaii.

This Bill will be supported by a wide coalition of groups, such as: cultural practitioners, beach goers, hikers, and environmentalists, fisherman, divers, snorkelers, the National Park’s administrators and businesses that will provide jobs supported by an expanded eco-tourism industry.

Once the 2,000-foot conservation easement coastal buffer zone is in place, federal funds and matching funds may be available for acquisition of privately held parcels along the Ala Kahakai Trail. Federal and state funds could also be obtained to build the parallel trail, which would be the foundation for an eco-tourism industry on the Island of Hawaii.

— Find out more:
www.dhecht.com/?page_id=239