Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by President John Wilson at 5:30 p.m. in the Kula Elementary School Library.

Attendees
Members present were: Erwin DePonte, Brian Jenkins, Tom Jewell, Alan Kaufman, Ben Keau, Elliott Krash, Dick Mayer, John McDonald, Karolyn Mossman, Mitch Silver, Steve Sutrov, and John Wilson.

Members excused were: Sue Guille and Charlie Maxwell.

Members absent were: Henrietta Chong, Gerrri Hestand, Henry Lau, and Ron Sakugawa.

Others attending were: Chuck Bergson - KPOA; Mary Evanson - Friends of Haleakala National Park; Charlie Fein - Independent contractor for EIS on Haleakala Summit broadcast towers; Mike Mayberry - UH Institute of Astronomy; and Tony Mondello - KCA member.

Treasurer's Report
Treasurer Karolyn Mossman reported the previous balance of $2073.65, with revenues of $97.86 (from T-shirts - $36; from Parks Department for Kula Community Center deposit - $60; and interest) and expenditures of $101.88 (for Haleakala Times advertisement), bringing the current balance to $2069.63. On a motion by John McDonald, seconded by Alan Kaufman, the report was accepted subject to audit.

Secretary's Report
On a motion by Alan Kaufman, seconded by Brian Jenkins, the minutes of the 5 February Board meeting were approved as submitted. On a motion by John McDonald,, seconded by Alan Kaufman,, the minutes of the 5 March Board Meeting were approved as submitted.

Rep. Halford and Sen. Chumbley: Letters supporting the Photo Radar Pilot Project.

Maui County Council Budget Committee: Presentation at the 24 March public hearing on KCA's priorities.

Pat Phung, U.S. Department of Transportation: Letter thanking him for responding to citizen's concerns about the Kula Highway guardrails and outlining agreed upon changes in the proposed plans.

Alan Arakawa: Invitation to participate in the County Council Budget Committee meetings.

King Kekaulike High School: Announcements of the 2 April Community-As-Partners meeting and the

4 April Ho'ike event.

Committee Reports
Committee Assignments: John Wilson distributed the list of committee assignments for 1998. Any changes should be communicated to him or Elliott Krash and a corrected list will be distributed at the next meeting.

Program: Alan Kaufman reported for Sue Guille on plans for a panel discussion at the May General Meeting on drug and substance abuse and youth activities. Possible participants and speakers who are being contacted include: Ernest Soares, Community Police Officer - providing the police and community perspective on the extent of the problem; staff and students from King Kekaulike High School - giving their different perspectives in the school setting; and representatives from Ice Breakers, Alice Lee's task force on youth crime - offering several perspectives on youth crime and related issues. The suggestion was made that a title should be selected that will convey a positive message as well as indicate the topics being discussed.

Roads: John McDonald reviewed the status of the Kula Highway guard rail project, emphasizing that the thank you letter sent to Pat Phung (See Communications above) and copied to Bob Siarot provides a written record of changes in the plans agreed to by the engineers on the site visits with KCA representatives. John McDonald also reported that the Kekaulike Highway project plans are being revised according to KCA's suggestions and that he will be contacted by the project engineer for a final review prior to completion of the project.

Report to General Membership: The Board agreed that committee accomplishments should be reported at General Meetings and featured in newsletters. A suggestion to seek General Membership affirmation of all Board votes was not accepted.

Unfinished Business
Kihei/Upcountry Highway: Discussion on the KCA's policy position included the following:

- Whether the KCA position statement should reflect the Board of Director's position or the Kula community's position as stated on the 1997 survey.

- How the Pukalani, Haliimaile, and Makawao communities should be involved.

- The extent to which the wording of the statement should reflect the strong opposition expressed at the February General Meeting versus the support expressed on the survey for a highway.

There was general agreement that the Board should incorporate the community's interests and concerns in the position statement; that other upcountry communities had the opportunity to share their positions and concerns with the KCA at the meeting coordinated by Steve Sutrov; and that the wording should balance the different interests and concerns of the community. On a motion by Karolyn Mossman with a second by Dick Mayer, and amended by Dick Mayer with a second by Alan Kaufman, the following policy position was adopted with one abstention:

The Kula Community Association Board of Directors opposes the Pulehu, Kulamalu, and Five Trees termini options of the Upcountry/Kihei Highway. Further, the Kula Community Association Board supports as its highest priority the upgrading and improvements to existing roads connecting Upcountry and Kihei - Piilani Highway, Mokulele Highway, Hansen Road, and Haleakala Highway - to alleviate growing traffic concerns. If an Upcountry/Kihei road is to be built, the Kula Community Association Board considers the Haliimaile terminus the best option available.

T-shirts: On a motion by Alan Kaufman, seconded by Steve Sutrov, the Board approved the purchase of 100 t-shirts - 50 large and 50 extra large.

Maui Pine Market: Brian Jenkins reported on the status of the special use permit that Maui Pine has applied for to build a market on agricultural land across from King Kekaulike High School. Action on the application will not occur for several months. According to the permit application, the market will sell agricultural products, t-shirts, other retail items, and food, but no alcohol or tobacco products. Issues raised during discussion included: traffic during peak tourist and school hours; the safety of students, staff, and other school visitors; the inappropriate use of agricultural land; and any concerns the school might have. Elliott Krash will contact Susan Scofield of King Kekaulike to ascertain whether the school has been informed of the plans and what their position is and Brian Jenkins will contact Judy Nakamura of Maui Pine to invite her to the next Board Meeting to respond to questions.

New Business
Haleakala Summit Use: Mike Mayberry of the UH Institute of Astronomy provided a brief overview of installations on the summit since the early 1940's. He focused on astronomy and broadcast installations, noting that because of elevation and accessibility the site is one of the best in the world for astronomical research - but also for broadcasting towers which are generating increasing levels of radio frequency interference. He explained that the UH Institute of Astronomy, because it had a compelling need to reduce the interference levels, was assigned the task of identifying other sites for broadcast towers. He noted that two previous environmental assessments had not been considered satisfactory, and the one being done now by Charlie Fein will examine technological, environmental, political, historical, practical and other aspects of several sites. Chuck Bergson of KPOA spoke briefly on the broadcast tower site he developed on a three acre parcel on Ulupalakua Ranch. It is a commercial project designed to accommodate all broadcast towers in one location. Because the site is distant from and not in the line of sight of the summit, its transmissions do not create interference for the UH astronomical studies. Mary Evanson of Friends of Haleakala National Park indicated that her group favored KPOA's Ulupalakua site - rather than another site identified in a previous study - for environmental, historical, and aesthetic reasons. During discussion, other issues addressed included the following:

- Most interference comes from broadcasting towers; interference can be partially blocked, but often at great expense; and interference is expected to increase in the future with the use of new technologies.

- Broadcast towers must be located at a certain elevation and in specific locations to serve the FCC licensed coverage areas; and placing them at lower elevations or in several sites is probably not cost effective.

- The UH Institute cannot relocate its observatory to Mauna Kea, as sites are taken or Mauna Loa, because the site is technologically incompatible.

- Numerous federal, state, and county agencies and groups have overlapping roles and interests; it is not clear who has authority to make a final decision; and it was proposed that the state legislature should fund development of a long range master plan.

Kula Elementary School PTA Membership: On a motion by Alan Kaufman, seconded by Dick Mayer, the Board approved expenditure of $5 for a KCA membership in KES PTA. After a brief discussion, the Board agreed that this support of the KES is appropriate because KCA uses the school's library and that joining other PTA groups at this time was not necessary.

T-shirt Proceeds: Steve Sutrov suggested the KCA consider use of some of its revenues to support community projects.

Announcements
KCA Board Meeting: 7 May, Kula Elementary School, 5:30 p.m. Proposed agenda: Maui Pine Market, General Meeting program and agenda, and use of KCA revenues.

KCA General Meeting: 21 May, Kula Community Center, 7:00 p.m. Proposed program: Substance Abuse.