The Board of Land and Natural Resources on Saturday approved the Kipahulu Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area, making it just the third such area in the state.
Kipahulu, on Maui’s southeast side, follows the designations of Haena on Kauai and Milolii on Hawaii Island.
According to a DLNR news release, “CBSFAs are established to ensure abundant stocks of priority species and high-quality fishing now and in the future for residents and visitors.”
In other words, with the designation, families in the Kipahulu area will be able to continue a subsistence-based lifestyle that relies heavily on traditional fishing, hunting and farming practices to supplement their diet; practices that are actively passed on to the younger generation.
The DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources wrote in its “submittal” to the BLNR: “The purpose of this rulemaking action is to facilitate the substantive involvement of the community in resource management decisions for the area through dialogue with community residents and resource users; establish the Opihi Rest Area to ensure stock health and to allow replenishment of this important food resources; and establish the Kukui Bay Sanctuary for the preservation and protection of critical nursery habitat for numerous marine species, including species traditionally relied upon for subsistence.”
The Kipahulu CBSFA came about after 10 years of engaging with various parties. In comparison, the state’s first CBSFA designation in 2015, Haena on Kauai, took 30 years. Milolii was established in 2022.
“The time has finally come,” said Kipahulu Ohana Executive Director Kamalei Pico in the release. “Reflecting back over the past 10 years, we’d like to take the time to celebrate all of the efforts and milestones through this process. Hundreds and hundreds of hours have been put into creating this rules package by our community members and partners.”
Just one clarification was made to the “rules package” regarding the boundaries of Kipahulu CBSFA – it will include “all state waters and submerged lands from Kalepa Gulch in the west to Puaaluu Gulch in the east.”
The designation awaits signing by Gov. Josh Green.