ASSOCIATION OF HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUBS
A RESOLUTION
No. 2017 – 30
URGING STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION OF MAUNAWILI VALLEY LANDS
WHEREAS, Maunawili Valley in the ahupuaʻa of Kailua is celebrated in story and chant for its association with akua, ali‘i, and cultural heroes; and
WHEREAS, Maunawili Valley contains wetlands, streams and/or freshwater springs that provide most of the water that flows to the Kawainui Marsh ecosystem and more than 50 springs and smaller streams are present, including Maunawili Stream, the most significant stream in the ahupuaʻa; and
WHEREAS, ancient and historic sites throughout Maunawili Valley include heiau, sacred stones, petroglyphs, Hawaiian burials, alanui, house sites, grinding stones, irrigated and dryland agricultural terraces, large ‘auwai related to extensive loʻi, and nineteenth and early twentieth century structures related to agriculture and food production; and
WHEREAS, the 1994 Kawainui Master Plan recommended the State acquire the privately-owned Wetland/Semi-Wetland areas in Maunawili, noting that they are hydrologically part of Kawainui Marsh and separated only by the highway and that acquisition would “protect the wetlands from future undesired developments” and inappropriate alteration of the landscape and waterways; and
WHEREAS, the State of Hawai‘i has not secured these Maunawili lands, which remain privately owned; and
WHEREAS, HRT, Ltd., owner of more than 1,000 acres in Maunawili including the Royal Hawaiian Golf Course, has filed applications with the City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting to subdivide hundreds of acres of open space and important agricultural lands in Maunawili Valley; and
WHEREAS, there is an urgent need to protect and conserve the Maunawili wetlands, semi-wetlands, proposed Important Agricultural Lands, freshwater resources, ancient and historic sites, and historic trails within the vital context of agricultural sustainability; and
WHEREAS, there is also a need to provide managed and restricted access to State trails in proximity to Maunawili Historic Wetland/Semi-Wetland areas and The Queen’s Retreat; and
WHEREAS, the Hui Maunawili-Kawainui is a group of descendants and residents of Maunawili and Kailua who represent a coalition of Hawaiian cultural and environmental organizations, including the Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club, who have joined together to protect prime agricultural and culturally significant lands in Maunawili; and
WHEREAS, the Hui Maunawili-Kawainui seeks to restore the health of Maunawili so that the valley can resume its vital and traditional role in the ahupuaʻa of Kailua as a source of free-flowing fresh water and place of abundant agriculture and rich cultural resources; and
WHEREAS, the Hui Maunawili-Kawainui has been increasing public awareness of Maunawili’s significance, as a source of freshwater for the ahupuaʻa of Kailua with important agricultural lands, and a place rich with natural, cultural and historic resources; and
WHEREAS, Governor David Y. Ige has declared a state goal to double local food production by 2020, which is in line with Maunawili’s legacy as historically fertile ground for the production of food crops; and
WHEREAS, the Hui Maunawili-Kawainui has met with numerous State and City and County officials and elected representatives to express the need to protect and preserve the Maunawili lands and to seek both institutional and financial support toward that end; and
WHEREAS, Hui members have met with HRT, Ltd. representatives and are now working in partnership with national and local trust entities that purchase and manage lands to identify ways to acquire HRT properties in Maunawili; and
WHEREAS, HRT, Ltd. is the property holder for the Harry & Jeannette Weinberg Foundation, whose purpose is to address the needs of children, the poor, and the disadvantaged; and
WHEREAS, the mission of the Weinberg Foundation aligns with Hui Maunawili-Kawainui’s collective social conscience and stated responsibility to protect and preserve the natural and cultural resources of this region and the traditions associated with them, which are vital to the well-being of Hawaiʻi and its people.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs at its 58th Annual Convention in Seattle, Washington, in the malama of ʻIkuwā and the rising of Māhealani, this 4th day of November 2017, urging strong support for the preservation and restoration of Maunawili Valley lands; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs supports the efforts of the Hui Maunawili-Kawainui to protect and conserve the Maunawili lands and urges HRT, Ltd. to work with the Hui Maunawili-Kawainui toward the purchase of the HRT Maunawili lands to bring to fruition a larger, truly community-based vision of restoring Maunawili to its vital and traditional role in the ahupua‘a as a source of free-flowing fresh water and place of abundant agriculture and rich cultural resources; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs urges the State and City and County to work with the Hui Maunawili-Kawainui in their efforts to acquire these important and rich agricultural, cultural, and historic lands; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a certified copy of this resolution be transmitted to Senator Jill Tokuda, Senator Laura Thielen, Representative Chris Lee, Representative Ken Ito, Representative Cynthia Thielen, Chairperson Suzanne Case of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Chair of the Honolulu City Council, Honolulu City Councilmember Ikaika Anderson, as well as the Governor of the State of Hawai‘i, President of the State Senate, Speaker of the State House of Representatives, Chair of the State Senate Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, Chair of the State House Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources & Hawaiian Affairs, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and all County Mayors.
The undersigned hereby certifies that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted in the malama of ʻIkuwā and the rising of Māhealani on the 4th day of November 2017, at the 58th Annual Convention of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs in Seattle, Washington.
Annelle C. Amaral, President
