Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 29, Number 5, 1 May 2012 — State seeks comment on managing coastal areas [ARTICLE]

State seeks comment on managing coastal areas

By Jeff Kent and Mamie Meyer The state is evaluating how its guiding document for coastal-zone management has fared in its first five years, and is seeking input on how to improve it from Native Hawaiians and other stakeholders. The 2006 Hawai'i Oeean Resources Management Plan, or ORMP, helps to guide Hawai'i's Coastal Zone Management Program by establishing priorities in management, development and developing use plans. An evaluation is currently underway on the first five years of the plan's implementation to identify areas of focus for the next five years, and to determine how the ORMP should be refined or changed to incorporate new issues. The evaluation and update of the 2006 ORMP will last about 18 months and will be completed in mid-2013. Over the years, the plan has emerged as a way to coordinate government planning efforts in the use of coastal areas - providing a forum for eollaborative management of natural and cultural resources with representatives from federal, state and county agencies, academia, community partners and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Previous versions of the ORMP date back to 1985. The 2006 version, however, set a new course with a greater focus on ecosystem-based management that draws from themes of traditional ahupua'a management. ORMP was a partner in community stewardship efforts, such as Māhuahua 'Ai o Hoi, a project to restore the He'eia wetlands and reduce nonpoint source pollution at the shoreline by incorporating a traditional Hawaiian ahupua'a concept to land management. The current effort to update the ORMP aims to build upon this integrated management approach, whieh embraces practices and relationships among the land, oeean and community as stewards of the resources. The 2006 ORMP recognized the need for the community and government to work together in a collaborative fashion. It is defined by three guiding perspectives: » Connecting land and sea Careful and appropriate use of the land is required to maintain the diverse array of ecological, social, cultural and eeonomie benefits we derive from the sea.

» Preserving our oeean heritage - A vibrant and healthy oeean environment is the foundation for the quality of life valued in Hawai'i and the well-being of its people, now and for generations to eome. » Promoting collaboration and stewardship - Working together and sharing knowledge, experience and resources will improve and sustain our efforts to care for the land and sea. There will be muhiple ways to provide input, and the first such opportunity is by attending one of the ongoing puhlie listening sessions in May. Your voice is important. Come share what's happening on your island, your concerns, conflicts, proposed solutions, and areas needing priority attention in your community. ■ Jeff Kent is a puhlie policy advocate at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Mamie Meyer is a planning anel poIicy analyst at the Offce ofPIanning, Coastal Zone Management.

SHARE Y0UR MANA'O The 0ffice of Planning's CZM Program is seeking input on the 0RMP from a wide variety of stakeholders and oeean users, including Native Hawaiians. Puhlie listening sessions kicked off on Kaua'i on April 25. The May schedule is as follows: O'ahu, May2; West Hawai'i, May 16; East Hawai'i, May 17; Lāna'i, May 22; Maui, May 23; Moloka'i, May 30 Written comments: lf you are unahle to attend any of the sessions, email your comments to ormp_update@dbedt.hawaii. govormailthem to: Hawai'i Coastal Zone Management Program State of Hawai'i, 0ffice of Planning P.O. Box 2359 Honolulu, Hl 96804-2359 Phone: (808) 587-2846 More info on 0RMP and session dates, times and locations: state.hi.us/dbedt/czm/ ormp/ormp.php