The University of Hawaiʻi hosted a virtual public forum to answer questions about the proposed new master plan for the UH-managed lands on Maunakea—Master Plan for the University of Hawaiʻi Maunakea Lands; E Ō I Ka Leo (Listen to the Voice). The forum can be viewed on YouTube and the public is encouraged to go to the Maunakea Master Plan website (https://maunakea.konveio.com/) to review the plan and provide comments through October 26.
- Related UH News story: Public input requested for new Maunakea Master Plan, September, 12, 2021
About 55 questions were submitted and answered during the two hour livestream hosted by Marisa Yamane. The panelists included Greg Chun, executive director of the UH Hilo Center for Maunakea Stewardship, Doug Simons, director at the UH Institute for Astronomy and Jim Hayes from Planning Solutions Inc., the land-use firm contracted by UH to help develop the new master plan.
“If we can focus on where we share common values, common beliefs, we can have better conversations,” said Chun at the close of the forum. “Whether that leads to better solutions, that remains to be seen.”
The new plan will guide land-use decisions on UH-managed Maunakea lands and serve as a framework for aligning land-use decisions, management actions and educational programs. The existing master plan was adopted in 2000 with an intended 20-year lifespan.
All comments,feedback and forum questions will be taken into consideration as the draft is amended before going to the UH Board of Regents for review and possible further changes. Final approval is expected in early 2022.
