KTIWG January 2023 Meeting Notes

Kalaupapa Transition Interagency Working Group (KTIWG) Planning Meeting

Thursday, January 12, 2023, 9:00 AM

MS Teams meeting

1. Introductions

Agency	Participant name	Participant title
DHHL	Shelley CarreiraNancy McPherson Kelbert Yoshida	Land Agent Planner Engineer
DLNR	Blue Kaanehe	Land Division, Project Development Specialist
DOH	Michael Casey Baron Chan Sara Beth Newell Kenneth Seamon	Planner, Hansen’s Disease Branch Chief, Hansen’s Disease Branch Administrative Officer, Hansen’s Disease Branch Kalaupapa Administrator
DOT	Hannah Hays Brian Kamimoto Traci Lum Herman Tuiolosega	Airports Division, Planner Assistant Airport Superintendent Airports Division, Planner Airports Division, Planner
Maui County
NPS	Nancy Holman George Turnbull	Superintendent, Kalaupapa National Historical Park Contractor
DOI/NHR

2. Review/Edit/Approve Group’s Previous Draft Meeting Notes

Meeting notes were reviewed prior to meeting and posted to NPS website: https://www.nps.gov/kala/getinvolved/ktiwg-nov22.htm

3. Discussion - Updates from Transition Group

NPS – National Park Service

Park Staffing
The park continues to make progress in its efforts to fill several critical vacancies. These include:

• Facilities Management Program Lead – Matt Padgett, previously duty stationed at Haleakala NP, has been selected for this position.
• Park Archeologist – an offer of the position has been made.
• Pest Controller – an offer of the position has been made.
• Park Planner (part time) - an offer of the position has been made.
• Deputy Superintendent – park is awaiting a certificate of eligible candidates.
• Administrative Support Assistant – working through interviews and references.
• Cultural Resources Program Lead – the park is seeking an acting program manager and will continue to recruit for the permanent position.

There continue to be many barriers to recruit/retain staff, so the park is looking at “creative ways” to fill critical positions but is making progress.

Agreements
The park is working closely with regional office staff to clarify authorities for entering into agreements with partners. Several important agreements must be renewed in the near future, including the master agreement with Department of Health, which expires in 2024. Additionally, the park will be working with this Interagency Working Group to clarify its role and strategic intent going forward.

NPS Director Visit
NPS Director Charles Sams visited the park on December 8, 2022 and had an opportunity to meet staff. He was particularly impressed by work of the Historic Preservation Team within the Facility Management Division and its efforts to recruit and train local staff from Molokai.

DOH – Department of Health

Staffing
Dr. Kenneth Fink has been selected and confirmed as new DOH Director. Recruitment is underway to fill Communicable Disease and Public Health Nursing Branch Chief position previously held by Dr. Glen Wasserman, who recently retired.DOH has many vacant positions at Kalaupapa and filling these vacancies is a lengthy process. A vacant Carpenter position has recently been filled.

Kalaupapa Memorial
DOH will be setting up a meeting between NPS, DOH and Ka ‘Ohana to reinitiate the project. Ka ‘Ohana will be reminded of the project requirements established by NPS, DOH and DLNR that are built into the project. The governor has released state project funds to DOH for contract purposes.

CIP Funding
The Legislature approved funding for 3 projects that are anticipated to begin during this fiscal year. These include:

• DOH is awaiting approval of the closure plan for the Construction & Demolition (C&D) landfill. Once the plan is approved by DOH’s Solid and Hazardous Waste (SHWB) Branch, Department of General Administrative Services (DAGS) will solicit for a contract for closure. Hoping for plan approval in Spring 2023, which would push bid solicitation/award, and construction start date most likely into next fiscal year. The plan includes installation of a synthetic cover for the closed dump. DHHL requested that DOH share the closure plan with them.
• An underground storage tank assessment and removal plan is to be prepared to determine if the existing fuel storage tank must be replaced. If so, a separate CIP proposal for removal will be developed. NPS requested that the above ground gas pumps and structures be retained since they are contributing features to the National Historical Landmark.
• DOH has requested DAGs initiate the roofing CIP project.

In the coming 2023 Legislative session, the Branch is proposing two new CIP projects regarding Kalaupapa:

• Provide new cover for MSW landfill.
• Conduct lead/asbestos abatement of structures.

DHHL – Department of Hawaiian Home Lands

Kalaupapa Beneficiary Working Group
In December, DHHL staff met with DOH and NPS staff who are beneficiaries in the Kalaupapa settlement. It was by all accounts a productive meeting much appreciated by the staff. A follow up meeting will be held in February. DHHL staff requested further participation in community meetings in the settlement.

Staffing
Cedric Duarte, DHHL Public Affairs program lead, is no longer with DHHL.

Compliance and Projects
Nancy McPherson has been working with Lin Anh Cat (NPS KALA Resources Management Chief) to ascertain that Section 343/Hawaii Environmental Protection Act (HEPA) requirements are built into federal NEPA compliance actions required for significant park projects.DHHL staff have been informally consulting with their Deputy Attorney General to clarify ownership issues surrounding patient owned structures at Kalaupapa going forward.

DOT – Department of Transportation

Satellite Dish at Airport
A project to install a satellite dish on the maintenance shed at the airport has been approved. DOT asked if NPS or DOH might have need for the extra bandwidth provided by the dish.

Fire Fighting Equipment
DOT discussed the potential to provide a firefighting capability at the airport. This could include a new fire engine and potentially additional staff. NPS and DOH will follow up on these possibilities with DOT.

DLNR – Department of Land and Natural Resources

Kalaupapa Memorial
DLNR is supportive of the approach to the Memorial project outlined above. They highlighted the need for agreements between Ka Ohana, NPS, DLNR and DOH as the project moves forward. They suggested Ka Ohana needs to retain a firm with design expertise to complete the project design.