The National Park Service has nixed the idea of expanding Molokai’s Kalaupapa National Historical Park’s boundaries within nearby Pelekunu and Halawa valleys because of opposition voiced at public meetings and during a comment period earlier this year.
“This change, based on the comments received, better enables the NPS to focus on the important issues affecting the future management of Kalaupapa National Historical Park,” said Erika Stein Espaniola, the park superintendent, in an email on Tuesday. No other specific reasons were given for changing plans.
In its draft general management plan and an environmental impact statement released in April, the Park Service proposed four future management strategies for the historic Hansen’s disease settlement on the isolated northern peninsula of Molokai. The plans called for various strategies to address the direction of the park for the next 15 to 20 years.
Proposals included maintaining the status quo, removing the visitor cap of 100 people per day, allowing larger planes to land at the settlement, recommending more than $20 million for historic preservation and allowing hands-on stewardship activities for the public as well as volunteer work.
Two of the four alternatives recommended that nearby Pelekunu Preserve and a portion of Pu’u O Hoku Ranch be added to the park. The lands could be managed as a “preserve.”
The Park Service recommended the move “to promote long-term protection of nationally significant resources along the north shore cliffs.”
But at least several organizations including the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Ka ‘Ohana O Kalaupapa, a nonprofit made up of Kalaupapa residents, family members and longtime friends; and Hui Ho’opakele ‘Aina (Rescue the Land) based on Molokai were either opposed or expressed concern over the land acquisitions.
Some noted that the lands are owned by Native Hawaiian families who may not wish to sell or include it in the park system, and others were worried that more inclusion of lands into the park system would be the start of the “North Shore National Park” in which recreation could be emphasized rather than the history of Kalaupapa. Other concerns were how the oversight would affect Native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices in the area, although the Park Service said it would manage the area with Native Hawaiian entities.
In her letter, Espaniola said the Park Service is “carefully reviewing all comments received and will be making changes and adjustments in the final plan in order to address public concerns.” She thanked members of the public who provided comments that were “passionate” and “thoughtful.” She said the feedback would help create a solid plan for Kalaupapa’s future. The comment period ended on June 8.
The comments are available for viewing online at .
In an email last week, responding to questions about a timeline for the completion of the plan as well as more opportunities for public input, Espaniola said: “We are currently working through the large volume of public comments received on the draft plan. We are carefully reading and considering each comment and making revisions to the plan based on public comments. The plan is large and complex, and we want to ensure that we address all the comments received. We will be working with our agency partners and seeking advice from the Kalaupapa National Historical Park Advisory Commission in 2016.”
The National Park Service’s action to eliminate its proposed land acquisition proposal has garnered some kudos from the community.
“I do want to compliment them, that they have made these two significant changes, if they are truly eliminating adding on Pelekunu and Halawa Valley Cliffs,” said Valerie Monson, coordinator and secretary of the Ka ‘Ohana.
She added that the Park Service also has made it more publicly known this time that it is seeking to appoint new members to the Kalaupapa National Historical Park Advisory Commission. (See “Park Service looking for nominations to fill Kalaupapa park commission”)
But Monson added: “We are hoping additional changes will be made, too.”
Those included recognizing programs the ‘Ohana already conducts such as reaching out to Kalaupapa families and schools as well as conducting public presentations and creating exhibits, all of which NPS has suggested duplicating, with taxpayer money, the ‘Ohana said.
Other concerns are that the Park Service’s draft plan did not include the ‘Ohana as a long-term partner and did not give the group credit for its many improvements and programs. The Kalaupapa Memorial, which will list the names of the estimated 8,000 people who were sent to Kalaupapa, should also be included in the management plan, the ‘Ohana said.
Walter Ritte of Hui Ho’opakele Aina called the land acquisition proposal a “land grab” earlier this year. Now, he said he is “relieved” that the land acquisition won’t happen.
“But I still want them to show us, the community, what they are going to do with Waikolu (valley),” which is already within the Park Service boundaries.
Ritte said there used to be a water system in Waikolu Valley and such valleys are like “gold,” with an abundance of resources for food and cultural practices.
“All I was saying is show us what you can do with the valley you have before you take the rest of the valleys,” he said.
The Kalaupapa plan comes at a critical moment for the settlement where people with Hansen’s disease, or leprosy, were exiled beginning in 1866. It is the place where two saints worked, St. Damien de Veuster and St. Marianne Cope. More than 8,000 people died there, the Park Service said.
The time is nearing when the last of the patients will die or move away. The draft plans for a park that encompasses 8,725 acres of land and 2,000 acres of water begin planning for that time. Earlier this spring, there were 16 people who had the right to live at Kalaupapa, although only eight or nine had chosen to do so earlier this year.
The four plan alternatives generally include:
* No action, maintaining programing, facilities, staffing and funding at current levels. There are 40 staff members on site. This no-action plan does not give long-term guidance after the state Department of Health departs Kalaupapa when the last patients have died or left the peninsula. Total annual operating costs are estimated at $4.2 million per year.
* Another alternative would maintain most of the existing rules and regulations, including limiting visitation to 100 people per day, but also provide guidance for managing Kalaupapa when the DOH leaves. This includes sharing Kalaupapa’s history outside the park and increasing the current staff to 14. Total annual operating costs would be $5.9 million.
* Another alternative would allow hands-on stewardship activities along with service and volunteer work at the settlement. This would allow children to visit, but only after the patients have died or left. It would remove the 100 visitor per day cap, but limit visitors through other methods. It would still give guidance after DOH leaves and adds 17 staff members. Annual operating cost would be about $6.2 million. This was the Park Service’s preferred plan.
* The final alternative would increase the number of visitors along with allowing larger planes, with a 20-passenger limit. Currently, nine-passenger Cessna Grand Caravans fly into the airport. New trails would be constructed, and visitors would be able to engage in onsite living cultural activities and demonstrations of resource management techniques. It would add on 20 more staff members. Operating annual cost would be $6.4 million.
The plan can be found at .
* Melissa Tanji can be reached at .
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