Land Board favors Maui
park kayak concessionsBut some Hawaiians want to cut
the kayak presence in the area
WAILUKU >> State Land Board Chairman Peter Young said he supports the concept of establishing kayak concessions in 'Ahihi-Kina'u Natural Area Reserve and Keoneo'io at La Perouse in south Maui.
CORRECTION
Monday, April 5, 2003» State Land Board Chairman Peter Young supports the establishment of kayak concessions in 'Ahihi-Kina'u Natural Area Reserve and Keoneo'io on Maui. A headline on Page A19 yesterday incorrectly said the entire Land Board supports the concessions.
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com.But some native Hawaiians want to severely curtail or eliminate kayaks from the area.
State Department of Land and Natural Resources officials plan to make a presentation tomorrow about the kayak concessions before the state Natural Area Reserves System Commission.
The meeting starts 9 a.m. at the DLNR board room at the Kalanimoku Building, Room 132, 1151 Punchbowl St., Honolulu.
Young said the intent is to get conceptual approval from the commission about kayak concessions in the 'Ahihi-Kina'u and Keoneo'io area, then present the proposal to the Land Board.
Young said the state is trying to manage the growing number of visitors at 'Ahihi-Kina'u Natural Area Reserve and Keoneo'io.
There are more than 1,000 people daily visiting the area, including more than 70 kayakers, Young said.
State officials said there have been damage to historic sites and coral heads in the 'Ahihi-Kina'u reserve with 1,238 acres of land and 807 acres of marine ecosystems.
The state has put up portable toilets for the visitors and is seeking funds from the Hawaii Tourism Authority to pay for two rangers to monitor and provide information about the reserve.
The DLNR's proposed concept includes restricting the number of kayaks to no more than 10 at one time each at "Fishbowl" and "Aquarium" in the reserve.
Through an informal agreement last year, some kayak businesses have limited the number of people on daily tours to 16 per company and to refrain from launching tours after 8:30 a.m.
Leslie Kuloloio, a native Hawaiian fisherman, said to allow kayaks to continue to operate within the 'Ahihi-Kina'u reserve would be a step backward in protecting Hawaii's marine resources.
Kuloloio said Hawaiians in the south Maui area have respected the reserve as a marine sanctuary for more than 25 years and he feels the area is now being sacrificed for the pleasure of kayakers.
"It's really hard to see that taking place. It's free economics," he said. "The kayaks don't belong there. If the Natural Area Reserves Systems Commission approves Young's proposal, then they just as bad and worse."
