State weighs maximum
fines for koa logger
HILO >> From 1997 to 1999, Big Island logger Steve Baczkiewicz removed koa valued at $1 million from state lands without a permit, a state report says.
The state Board of Land & Natural Resources was to consider a staff recommendation today to assess nearly $419,000 in fines and penalties against Baczkiewicz, the maximum allowed by law.
During an investigation under way since 2001, Baczkiewicz told state agents he consulted numerous people and documents trying to determine the boundary between the state land in South Kona and adjoining Kahuku Ranch, where he also logged.
Baczkiewicz's attorney, William Chikasuye, said his client "made every effort" to be sure he logged only on ranch land.
State agents said Baczkiewicz failed to take the most reliable step to find the boundary. He should have hired a consulting company to use a global positioning system to determine the boundary, which would have cost him $1,200, the report said.
The GPS survey would have shown Baczkiewicz the boundary line within 10 feet, the report said. Baczkiewicz logged 1,500 feet inside the state line, according to the state.
The unauthorized logging came to light on May 31, 2001, when agents from the state's Natural Area Reserve System found the remains of what they said was illegal logging at about the 5,600-foot elevation of the Kipahoehoe Natural Area Reserve on Mauna Loa.
The logging was next to Kahuku Ranch, where Baczkiewicz had permission to log but no required state permits, according to the state. In April the Land Board fined ranch owner Damon Estate $480,335 for that logging. The estate requested a courtlike contested case to consider reducing the fine.
On the state land, agents found 157 koa trees were harvested, 50 koa trees were cut down but the wood was not used, and four kolea trees were harvested.
The board staff recommended a fine of $500 per tree, the maximum allowed, for a total of $105,500. Estimated damage to the land was put at $291,000, and costs to investigate the case were put at $22,464.68, giving a total of $418, 964.64 in fines and penalties.