Miloli‘i became the state’s second official Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area Tuesday when Gov. David Ige signed off on administrative rules decades in the making.
The Miloli‘i CBSFA will protect and conserve fish populations and their habitats, by combining traditional Hawaiian fishing practices with modern approaches to conservation, according to state officials.
“We need young people to carry this work forward and encourage other communities to create community-based subsistence fishing areas for the benefit and future of the entire state. Miloli‘i is a shining example of how we can all work together for the benefit of our marine resources, our keiki and our kupuna,” Ige said during a Tuesday visit to the remote coastal village in South Kona.
Creating the CBSFA dates back to 1994 when the state Legislature passed Act 271 creating the legal framework to designate community-based subsistence fishing areas. In 2005, Miloli’i became the first permanent, legislatively designated CBSFA in Hawaii via Act 232.
However, it wasn’t until 2021, in the wake of numerous community meetings, that the Division of Aquatic Resources conducted its own statewide public scoping meeting. After the creation of a marine management plan by nonprofit Kalanihale, public hearings were held earlier this year followed by the Board of Land and Natural Resources in June approving the final rules signed Tuesday by Ige.
“Here in the CBSFA you can do a lot. Really, we’re not stopping anything at all, except for our pakuikui rest zone but that’s only for that one specific fish. Other than that you can still harvest a lot of different species here. We just have certain bag limits for our species but you can still harvest,” said William Mae-Huihui, a cultural practitioner. “Now you got to be more pono — or righteous — about it because we want to make sure there is for future generations.”
Laila Kaupu, a fifth generation Miloli‘i fisher, was one of the prime movers behind the initiative and headed up the community group, Kalanihale, which was instrumental in the development of the rules.
“We come from long lines of fishermen, specifically ‘opelu fishermen. I am fifth generation opelu fishermen coming out of Miloli’i. It’s been a way of the people from even before the lava flow, the 1926 lava flow,” Kaupu said in a prepared video provided by the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
DLNR Chairperson Suzanne Case commended the community for its long-time effort to implement to CBSFA before Ige signed the final rules into law.
“This has indeed been a long road for Miloli‘i, but you all have persevered. We join you today in celebrating this tremendous achievement and remind us all, that the work has just begun in implementing these rules to manage Miloli’i’s resources. Here, and across the state we face immense challenges due to climate change, overfishing and other ecosystem stressors. This is a giant step in the right direction, and we are grateful for such dedicated partners, rooted in tradition, with the goal of co-management of nearshore resources,” she said.
After a boat tour and snorkel with the governor and his wife, Dawn, Kaupu let out a happy sigh.
“That’s my feeling and I’ve got a feeling that the kupunas are feeling the same. Just a lot of relief and just knowing that the community can holomua in its efforts, and with the support of state and federal behind us with what has been accomplished today. It could be that shining light that the governor mentions on the rest of pae aina of Hawaii,” she said.
The Miloli’i CBSFA covers waters spanning from Pa’akai Point at Kipahoehoe south to Kauna to a depth of 100 fathoms. The rules include size and/or bag limits for paku‘iku‘i, kole, uhu, opihi, and ula; seasonal restrictions for kole, ‘opelu, ‘u‘u, and uhu; no take of terminal males (blue) of the larger uhu species; no take of female ‘a‘ama with eggs; no take of ‘opihi ko‘ele; no commercial aquarium fishing and specific gear and species restrictions within subareas of the Miloli’i CBSFA.
In 2015, Ige signed rules created for the state’s first official CBSFA in Ha‘ena on Kauai. In 2016, amended rules for the Ka‘upulehu Marine Reserve were signed implementing a 10-year “no take” rule for the area.