Developers Meridian Pacific Ltd. still moving forward despite community outrage

These undeveloped parcels that serve as a natural drainage basin for the Kiahuna Golf Village, are home to the endangered Kauai Cave Wolf Spider (Adelocosa Anops) and the endangered Kauai Cave Amphipod (Spelaeorchestia Koloana). Portions of these parcels are designated habitat for several endangered species and include Hawaiian burials sites and caverns and other culturally significant archeological features. There are 3 Burials Mounds in total on this property. They are accessed by the cave entrances directly surrounding the property.

The USFWS recommended denial of the petition, stating there were endangered Kauai cave spiders and amphipods found on the parcel.3  USFWS noted there are likely spiders on other portions of the property not found in certain surveys because they live in underground portions not reachable by surveys.

 "The presence of extensive archeological remains on and in the area of the subject property is generally known. Petitioner, therefore, commissioned the Bernice P. Bishop Museum to conduct an archeological survey of the area which was filed in the proceeding as a Petitioner's Exhibit "X" and is entitled Archeological Reconnaissance Survey of Knudsen Trust Land At Koloa, Poipu, Kauai. That survey reveals and the Commission therefore finds as follows:

                (a) A substantial number of archeological sites exist on approximately 200 acres within the southern and eastern portions of the subject property;

                (b) These sites fall within the categories of platforms or varied forms, enclosures, modified actual features such as outcrops and sinkholes; large wall-structures;agricultural complexes with varied mounds, terraces and plots; lava tubes; simple stone structures with no definite functions; irrigated pondfields (lo'i) and irrigation ditches (auwai); foot trails and historic sites such as houses, tombs and ovens;

                (c) “These sites appear to be the remains of extensive agricultural complex that at one time stretched from Koloa Town to the Coast."

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