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The state Department of Land and Natural Resources announced on Sept. 9, 2020 that 3,433 acres of upland Kula property called Kamehamenui was conveyed by the Trust for Public Land to DLNR's Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) on Aug. 31, 2020.
On July 7, 2022, I received a letter inviting me to attend the first scoping meeting as a neighboring landowner to learn about DOFAW's vision and management guidelines for the Kamehamenui Forest Reserve and more importantly, to gather input and ideas and address any questions or concerns such as traffic, noise issues, parking, visitor use capacity, etc. It was at this meeting where a parking lot on Kekaulike Avenue was proposed for access to recreational activities.
On June 13, 2023, an online petition was started on change.org to help spread the word across our island community and beyond which stated, "Save Kamehamenui! Help Maui preserve the paniolo lifestyle and keep agriculture lands."
In addition to this online petition, it was important to have input from directly affected adjacent landowners and those who live nearby who frequently use Kekaulike Avenue; thus a neighborhood petition was started by yours truly and daughter, for people to sign if opposed to the main access point and parking lot that DLNR wants to put in along Kekaulike Avenue.
A suggestion for a possible public access and parking lot is by the hunter's check-in station by the Waiakoa Loop Trail on the way up to Polipoli State Park.
Carole Lum
Kula