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License sought by Honua‘ula Partners for take of endangered sphinx moth and nene

Honua’ula Partners is seeking a license from the state for the “incidental take” of the endangered Blackburn’s sphinx moth and nene during work to construct 1,400 homes, commercial areas and an 18-hole golf course in South Maui.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources announced it will hold a public hearing on a draft habitat conservation plan for Honua’ula, beginning at 6 p.m. Monday at the Kihei Community Center.

The draft plan is available for public inspection on the state Office of Environmental Quality Control website at oeqc.doh.hawaii.gov/Shared%20Documents/Environmental_Notice/Archives/2010s/2013-01-08.pdf or by contacting the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife at 1151 Punchbowl St., Room 325, Honolulu 96813.

The conservation plan is aimed at minimizing and mitigating harm to endangered species. It includes measures to avoid and monitor the take of endangered or threatened species during the project’s construction.

Implementation of avoidance and minimization measures is expected to avoid negative impacts on five additional endangered species: the Hawaiian stilt, coot, duck, petrel and hoary bat; a threatened species, Newell’s shearwater; and a species proposed for listing as endangered, awikiwiki.

These species are either present at the project site or could be attracted there during or after construction. The project was formerly known as “Wailea 670,” but it is mauka of and not located in the Wailea resort area.

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