RES 095 Draft 01 2024-2026 - Laserfiche WebLink

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WHEREAS, Section 2-218(a) of the Code provides, in pertinent part, that "[t]he council shall, by resolution, select the land or lands to be preserved..."; and "[w]here there are multiple lands under consideration at any one time, priority shall be given to coastal lands and lands where matching funding is available to leverage the County contribution"; and WHEREAS, the Kawainui Makai properties encompass and border both sides of Kawainui Stream, a major stream that meets the ocean with a sizable estuary and `ili`ili (pebble) beach along the Hilo-Hdmakua coastline, where the natural topography of Kawainui Makai enabled the landing and launching of canoes during calm seas, an asset that would have encouraged Native Hawaiian settlement; and WHEREAS, the acquisition of title and conservation for Kawainui Makai properties would be significantly beneficial to the County of Hawaii and our island community in the following ways: (1) To safeguard invaluable cultural resources of Kawainui Makai including several potential habitation, kilo and agricultural sites; (2) To preserve critical habitat for Hawai`i's aquatic organisms including all five species of o`opu and the endangered Hawaiian Damselfly; (3) To protect a large estuarine ecosystem which is dynamically abundant and provides essential nursury habitat for a variety of fish and invertebrates; (4) Revive important agricultural lands as agroforest to feed the community in addition to potentially generating income for the continued stewardship of this `aina; (5) To facilitate responsible managed public access for critical community fishing and gathering sites; (6) To enable community -based management and stewardship; and (7) To perpetuate the rural lifestyle and historical character of Hilo Paliku; and WHEREAS, the properties are currently for sale and the landowner is willing to negotiate with the County of Hawaii in good faith; and WHEREAS, Makahanaloa Fishing Association has proposed a stewardship plan which would engage the broader community and is willing to spearhead the stewardship efforts; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI`I that pursuant to Chapter 2, Article 42 of the 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 properties identified as Tax Map Key (3) 2-7-011:001 and (3) 2-7-010:027, situated in the Ahupua`a of Kawainui and Onomea, 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 this land, in accordance with the terms of this resolution. 2