Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan

Mauna Kea Comprehensive Management Plan

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FAQs

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      What is the Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP) for Mauna Kea?

      State law defines a management plan as a comprehensive plan for carrying out multiple land uses. The CMP for Mauna Kea, therefore, is a management plan that will specifically address multiple land uses on those lands managed by the University of Hawaiʻi (UH) on Mauna Kea. The CMP will provide a management framework for the Office of Mauna Kea Management (OMKM) to address existing and future activities on these conservation lands, with the goal of protecting Mauna Kea's significant cultural and natural resources. Click here to read the project overview.

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      What is the management area covered by the CMP?

      The CMP will address UH-managed lands on Mauna Kea, including the Mauna Kea Science Reserve (MKSR) (11,288 acres); the 19.3-acre site at Hale Pōhaku (including the Onizuka Center for International Astronomy (OCIA), the Visitor Information Station and cabins); and the summit access road from Hale Pōhaku to the MKSR boundary at the approximately 12,000-feet elevation, including a corridor approximately 400 yards on either side of the improved road (except for portions of this corridor which fall within the boundary of the Natural Area Reserve).

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      What is the land-use zoning for the CMP management area?

      The summit of Mauna Kea is located in the resource subzone of conservation district lands that fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR). Conservation district lands are regulated to conserve, protect and preserve the important natural resources (i.e., plants; wildlife; cultural, historic and archaeological sites) through appropriate management that promotes long-term sustainability, public health, safety and welfare. Per Hawaii Administrative Rules, Chapter 13-5, the objective of a resource subzone is to develop, with proper management, areas to ensure sustained use of natural resources. Click here to read the purpose and need.

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      Have other CMPs been developed for Mauna Kea?

      No. This will be the first Comprehensive Management Plan for Mauna Kea.

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      What are the 1995 Revised Management Plan for Mauna Kea and the 2000 Master Plan, and how do they differ?

      The 1995 Revised Management Plan for the UH Management Areas on Mauna Kea, is the current BLNR-approved plan for Mauna Kea. This plan assigns management and enforcement responsibilities of public and commercial use and institutes commercial use and management controls for the UH Management Areas on Mauna Kea. The UH Mauna Kea Science Reserve Master Plan 2000 Master Plan was adopted by the UH Board of Regents as the policy framework for the responsible stewardship and use of university-managed lands on Mauna Kea.

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      How will the CMP differ from the 1995 Revised Management Plan for Mauna Kea and the 2000 Master Plan?

      The CMP will build upon the previous management and master plans to update the management strategies for the range of activities on and uses of Mauna Kea. The CMP will include detailed information about natural and cultural resources, including management recommendations to ensure their protection, by incorporating plans currently being prepared by OMKM consultants. It will also consider how to process and manage existing and potential future uses of and activities on Mauna Kea, such as astronomy, recreational and commercial activities, scientific research, and cultural and religious activities. Click here to read the project overview.

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      What is the proposed schedule for completion of the CMP?

      It is anticipated that a draft of the CMP will be available for public review in October 2008. After public review, the CMP will be submitted to the Mauna Kea Management Board for review in November, and then submitted to the BLNR in December 2008 for final review and approval. Click here to read the project timeline.

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      Will there be community meetings for the public to give input on the CMP?

      Yes. There will be both traditional large public meetings as well as local style talk story sessions throughout the CMP planning process. Meeting dates, times, and locations for the public meetings are posted on the Upcoming Meetings page. The CMP project team is meeting with key stakeholders from various groups throughout the state to receive input. Please contact Ku'iwalu if you would like to have a presentation before your organization. Click here to read more about the public involvement process.

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      Who will approve of and accept the CMP?

      The draft CMP will be available to the community for their review and comment. Thereafter, the CMP will be submitted to the Mauna Kea Management Board for review, and then to the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) for final submission and approval. Click here to read the project timeline.

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      Who will implement the CMP?

      The Office of Mauna Kea Management will implement the CMP. The CMP process may include recommendations for consideration by other entities, including the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

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      Will the CMP consider Native Hawaiian practices?

      Yes. The CMP will seek to honor and respect Mauna Kea as a culturally significant site. The CMP will address concerns regarding the multiple uses of Mauna Kea (e.g., telescopes, human access) as they impact the cultural resources of Mauna Kea. Through community engagement, culturally appropriate management recommendations will be identified to manage the uses of and activities on Mauna Kea in order to sustain the cultural integrity of Mauna Kea. The CMP will contain strategies to preserve and protect native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices, culturally significant resources, and access to them.

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      Will the CMP address visitors and their impact on the summit's environment?

      Yes. In addition to being a sacred cultural site, a unique natural environment, and a place of astronomical study, Mauna Kea is a frequent stop for tourists and recreational visitors. The CMP will recommend management measures designed to minimize the impact of visitors on Mauna Kea's sensitive environment.

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      Will the CMP address the future of telescopes on Mauna Kea?

      The CMP will provide guidelines and recommendations for evaluating potential future land uses and ensuring that potential impacts to cultural and natural resources are minimized. In addition, the CMP will address issues related to locations for new developments, decommissioning of telescopes, and site restoration.

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      Is the CMP being driven by the proposed new telescope developments, i.e. Pan STARRS and TMT (Thirty Meter Telescope)?

      No. For OMKM a CMP is necessary for managing activities on and uses of Mauna Kea whether or not new development occurs. OMKM and the MKMB need a CMP to guide them in the review of any future project that is submitted for review. Any future land use, including PanSTARRS or TMT, will be required to comply with all federal, state, and county regulatory requirements, including DLNR conservation district use permits and environmental laws set forth in Hawaii Revised Statutes, Chapter 343.

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