Last Night in Hawaii Kai, Maunalua Bay Town Hall Meeting Huge Success

Community turned out in droves to say NO-to-NOAA’s Sanctuary Proposal

News Release from Hawaii Kai Marina Association and Friends of Maunalua Bay

(Honolulu, Hawaii) July 15, 2015 – In front of a crowd of over 400 people, in a packed auditorium for several hours on a hot and humid night at Hahaione Elementary School in Hawaii Kai, the community members, residents and business owners voiced their opposition to the NOAA plan very loud and clear. At the very end of the night at 10pm (1.5 hrs. past the schedule of 7-8:30pm) when Representative Gene Ward was closing the meeting, NOAA’s representative of this proposal Malia Chow stated, “If the community does not want this proposal we need to seriously reconsider our position on this issue.”

And of course it was clear and evident throughout the entire evening that over 99% of those in attendance were against the proposal to expand the sanctuary and take over management of the bay. As stated in the very first testimony by Robin Jones, VP of the Hawaii Kai Marina Community Association, she brought up and talked about 3 of the most important issues in the proposal, including dredging and permitting, allowing commercial activities in the bay and the future ability of disbursement of human remains. Since this SSMA designation was implemented by federal officials, with little to no community input or involvement, this night finally gave the local community a chance to voice their opposition to the proposal.

Some of the organizations represented include:

• Hawaii Kai Marina Community Association                                           
• Malama Maunalua
• Friends of Maunalua Bay                                                                             
• HFACT
• Livable Hawaii Kai Hui                                                                                    
• Hui Nalu
• Hawaii Kai Boat Club                                                                                      
• Hunting, Farming and Fishing Association      

PLUS----Dozens of individuals who spoke, again, 99% in opposition

An upcoming meeting on Monday, July 20, 2015 of NOAA’s Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council is being held from 9am-5pm at the Pagoda Hotel and is open to the public. There are requirements for speaking. Information on this meeting can be found at: http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/council/meeting_calendar.html.

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Rally for Maunalua Bay Set Ahead of Town Hall Meeting Tuesday in Hawaii Kai

News Release from Hawaii Kai Marina Community Association and Friends of Maunalua Bay

(Honolulu, Hawaii) July 13, 2015 – Hawaii Kai Marina Community Association, in partnership with Friends of Maunalua Bay, is planning a rally Tuesday, July 14, at 6 p.m. in front of Hahaione Elementary School prior to the Town Hall Meeting in the cafeteria at 7 p.m. with Malia Chow, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sanctuary Superintendent, and Suzanne Case, Director of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. The rally brings residents, business owners and other community members together to voice their concerns with the proposed plan to designate Maunalua Bay a Special Sanctuary Management Area (SSMA).

Many East Oahu residents and business owners say they had little to no input and involvement in the drafting of the proposed plan, which includes overly broad and vague language. At least 14 state, federal and Honolulu City & County agencies and other organizations submitted comment letters indicating major issues regarding the SSMA designation.

WHO: Members of the Hawaii Kai Marina Community Association and Vice-President of the Board Robin Jones and Friends of Maunalua Bay

WHAT: Maunalua Bay Town Hall Meeting Rally

WHERE: In front of Hahaione Elementary School, 595 Pepeekeo St., Hawaii Kai

WHEN: Tuesday, July 14 at 6 p.m.

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EAST HONOLULU ELECTED OFFICIALS TO HOLD TOWNHALL MEETING ON FUTURE OF MAUNALUA BAY

Ward Promises the Meeting will not be Environmentalists Vs. Bay-Users

News Release from Office of Rep Gene Ward July 14, 2015

Representative Ward’s office (R-Hawaii Kai - Kalama Valley) has organized a town hall meeting for the East Oahu community with its elected officials to discuss the future of Maunalua Bay.  The Bay has been proposed by the federal government (NOAA) to become part of an expanded Humpback Whale Sanctuary.  Many restrictions will be imposed on the bay which are of serious concern to bay-users.“The proposal has been met with very strong feelings by both environmentalists and bay-users and each group has taken their case to waving on the highway, so now is the time that we need to sit down at the table hear each other out, “ Ward said.Elective officials co-sponsoring the event with Rep. Ward Senator Sam Slom, Senator Laura Thielen, Rep. Mark Hashem, Councilman Trevor Ozawa, and Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Chair, Greg Knudsen.Key note speakers are NOAA Sanctuary Superintendent, Malia Chow who will speak about the federal side of the equation, and DLNR Director, Suzanne Case will speak about the State’s interest in the sanctuary proposal.“Hearing these two experts talk on the subject should help separate some facts from fictions that have been claimed by both groups of concerned citizen.  And yes, there will be strict ground rules enforced to make sure this is a time of reasoning together and does not become a shouting match, Ward concluded.WHAT:  TownHall Mtng on the Future of Maunalua Bay (see attached flyer)

WHEN: Tuesday, July 14, 2015 at 7:00pm

WHERE:  Hahaione Elementary School Cafeteria

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Background:

Feds Grab for Control of 1,601 square miles of Hawaii Waters

NOAA: Hawaii Humpbacks 'Not at Risk'

Humpbacks recover, but Hawaii still losing sovereignty over State waters