MEDIA RELEASE

The Office of Maunakea Management will be hosting public open houses in Kona, Hilo and Waimea to gather community input on suggested administrative rules for the University of Hawaii’s managed lands on Maunakea.

In accordance with Hawaii State Legislature Act 132, the purpose for rules is to provide proper protection of the natural, cultural and scientific resources and maintain public safety and welfare.

“These open houses in three locations around the island will allow us to get the community’s thoughts on rules that will help OMKM meet challenges it faces regarding resource protection and public safety. Following the open houses, the Office of Maunakea Management will draft administrative rules for public review and comment before approval by the appropriate agencies. Once approved, the rules will be the enforcement mechanism that protects the cultural, natural and scientific resources, and public health and safety on UH’s managed lands on Maunakea,” said Office of Maunakea Management Director Stephanie Nagata.

The Open Houses will take place in Kona at the West Hawaii Civic Center on Tuesday, June 23, in Hilo at the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center on Wednesday, June 24, and in Waimea at Kuhio Hale (DHHL West Hawaii District Office) on Thursday, June 25. All Open Houses begin at 5 p.m. and will run to 7:30 p.m.

The Office of Maunakea Management will provide exhibits on the suggested rules. The open house will discuss authority, purpose, consistency with DLNR’s rules relating to Maunakea, protection of Native Hawaiian rights, public activities, commercial activities, prohibited activities, safety concerns, permits, and administration and enforcement.

The public is encouraged to attend and provide input. Anyone requiring additional information about the Open Houses or the rulemaking process may contact OMKM at 808-933-0734 or email omkm@hawaii.edu

The Office of Maunakea Management is charged with day-to-day management of the Mauna Kea Science Reserve as prescribed in the Master Plan. The adoption of the Mauna Kea Science Reserve Master Plan by the University of Hawaii Board of Regents in June 2000 marked a critical milestone in the management of Maunakea. The Mauna Kea Science Reserve was previously established in 1968 by Governor John A. Burns.

Meetings and public hearings spanning a period of nearly two years went into the formulation of the Master Plan, which established management guidelines for the next 20 years. The Master Plan reflected the community’s deeply rooted concerns over the use of Maunakea, including respect for Hawaiian cultural beliefs, protection of environmentally sensitive habitat, recreational use of the mountain, and astronomy research.

It places the focus of responsibility with the University of Hawaii at Hilo. The UH-Hilo Chancellor established the Office of Maunakea Management and the Board of Regents established the Maunakea Management Board in the fall of 2000. The Maunakea Management Board in turn formed Kahu Ku Mauna, a council comprised of Hawaiian cultural resource persons to serve as advisors.

In 2009, the Comprehensive Management Plan was approved by the Board of Land and Natural Resources. The CMP included 4 sub-plans: Cultural Resource, Natural Resource, Public Access and Decommissioning.