HONOLULU - The state is beginning to draft an update of the Hawaii Ocean Resources Management Plan and has scheduled a series of statewide listening sessions, with three of them in Maui County.
The plan is the responsibility of the state Office of Planning Coastal Zone Management Program and was last updated in 2006. The office is now updating the current plan "by conducting an evaluation of the first five years of implementation, identifying areas of focus for the next five years, and determining how the ORMP should be refined or changed to incorporate new issues," according to an announcement of the meetings.
The plan "sets forth guiding principles and recommendations for use of coastal zone land and water resources, taking into consideration ecological, cultural, historic and esthetic values and the needs for compatible economic development," the announcement said.
The schedule for Maui County is:
* Tuesday, Lanai Senior Center, Lanai City, open house starts at 6 p.m. followed by a formal presentation at 7.
* Wednesday, Paia Community Center, open house starts at 5:30 p.m. followed by a formal presentation at 6:30.
* May 30, Mitchell Pauole Community Center, Kaunakakai, open house starts at 5:30 p.m. followed by formal presentation at 6:30.
In addition to testifying at the meetings, the public may submit comments via email to ORMP_Update@dbedt. hawaii.gov or by mail to the Office of Planning, Coastal Zone Management Program, P.O. Box 2359, Honolulu 96804.
Individuals planning to attend who need accommodations for disabilities should contact the program at (808) 587-2846 or submit requests in writing to the address above or via fax to (808) 587-2824 at least five days in advance.
