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WHEREAS, Section 2-218(a) of the Code provides, in pertinent part,that: "The council shall, by resolution, select the land or lands to be preserved"; and WHEREAS,the Punahoa Heritage Forest Property, consisting of approximately 1,052 acres, is ranked the second highest priority for acquisition in the Commission's 2023 Annual Report to the Mayor dated November 13, 2023; and WHEREAS, the Pa'a Foundation owns the property identified as tax map key (3) 2-5- 001:011 and is willing to negotiate in good faith for the County's acquisition of lands and/or conservation easements; and WHEREAS, the acquisition of the Punahoa Heritage Forest Property would be significantly beneficial to the County of Hawai`i and our island community as a method of preserving history specific to the ahupua`a of Punahoa as follows: (1)protecting cultural and natural resources; (2)preserving native forests and native plants including a kipuka that is home to endemic birds such as the `amakihi and `io; (3) providing educational opportunities; (4) facilitating responsible managed public access; (5)providing opportunities for protection of the Hilo Watershed, along with groundwater recharge and coastal ecosystem health; (6) enabling community-based management and stewardship; and(7)perpetuating Hawaiian cultural practices; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI`I that pursuant to Chapter 2, Article 42 of the Hawai`i County Code, the Director of Finance is hereby authorized to enter into negotiations for the acquisition of lands and/or conservation easements for all or a portion of the property identified as tax map key (3) 2-5-001:011, situated in the ahupua'a of Punahoa, District of South Hilo, utilizing the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director of Finance is authorized to initiate any funding mechanisms required for the acquisition of lands or conservation easements for all or a portion of the Punahoa Heritage Forest Property, in accordance with the terms of this resolution. 2