Kilauea groups form partnership with refuge to manage Kahili Beach uses

The Kilauea Neighborhood Association heard details of a community-government partnership to manage uses on and near Kahili Beach and the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge.

President Yoshi L’Hote said the arrangement would be a government/community partnership in which four — and possibly five — local organizations would "determine, place and maintain rules and security features" to keep uses compatible with refuge requirements. The groups named were KPNHA, KNA, HILT and ʻAina Hoʻokupu o Kilauea; Seacliff and Kahili road homeowners associations were listed as possible additional partners.

Why it matters: the partnership aims to balance public access, visitor management and conservation goals at a site adjacent to a federal refuge. The association flagged that any rule-setting must satisfy refuge requirements and noted that coordination among several local groups would be necessary before new access or uses are established.