Lucienne is part of a community effort to make sure Maui's Hamakua coast, from Spreckelsville to Kaumahina park have lands set aside for parks, fishing, surfing and beach access and protection of cultural sites, neighborhood trails and streams. Susan Bradford, Bob Hobdy and Lucienne check out old trail sections on Bob's extensive map collection.
Maui residents have grown up enjoying forests and streams, secluded ocean fishing spots and uncrowded beaches for surfing, swimming and family fun. For many families, the forests and oceans also provide food and a chance to pass on traditional practices to the next generation.
Maui County visitors are not content to stay at hotels or condos. They, too, seek out the natural beauty of Haleakala, Hana, Iao valley, Halawa valley, Papohaku Beach, Hulopo'e Bay, Keone'o'io Bay and Makena Park, often by the thousands every day.
Non-profit citizen groups are leading the way in cultural site restoration at Ko'ie'ie fish pond in Maui and several ponds in Moloka'i, Waihe'e, Honokowai valley, Moku'ula, Halawa valley, Kipahulu, Hana and other legendary places.
But many of our native habitat areas, historic and cultural sites are forgotten, neglected or under threat of destruction. Our reefs and marine habitats face ever growing challenges from alien algaes, overfishing and overuse by visitors.
County and state government needs to partner with citizen groups and pledge the funds necessary to protect larger areas of land and sea for native habitat regeneration.
Public access and recreation areas, cultural heritage sites and traditional trails also need to be respected and preserved.
Proposed plans such as the Lahaina Pali to Puamana parkway, Northshore Heritage park, Honolua Bay cultural park, numerous areas on Moloka'i and Makena cultural park need to be funded and implemented to set aside invaluable resources for future generations.
Updates and implementation of the county's Greenways, Open Space, and Cultural Resource Preservation plans also need to be done.
