RES 120 Draft 01 2024-2026 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ANTICIPATED USE ~ The properties are presently for sale bythe current owners, Na'AineKai Botanical Gardens, a family trust ' based *nKaua1. � Under the current landowners, the properties have been quietly and informally accessible for ocean } � access by the community. It will be a significant loss of one of the few remaining publicly accessible coastal areas in Hilo-115mUua, should new landowners purchase the property and close off the - informal access. ) | w Should a PONC purchase occur here, an extremely rare opportunity would open to the public, Not only are there ample recreational and food gathering opportunities here that would need tobm carefully - managed, but the rare estuary and massive freshwater stream system offer educational and research | ' opportunities that could greatly benefit local and statewide knowledge of Hawaiian aquatic |! ecosystems. SIGNIFICANCE AND MANAGEMENT • The Kawainui Makai estuary and associated stream system is quite possibly one of the best -preserved on the island, due boits size and relatively undeveloped surrounding lands. * Public acquisition would afford a rare opportunity to protect and study a unique ecosystem whose benefits tothe state'saquatic nasourcms'arehot fully understood, • Ocean accessibility is scarce in North and South Hilo and H5m5kua Districts, Public acquisition ufthis Kawainui/Onomea property would prevent loss of another rare ocean access in these districts, * The properties are for sale, and the landowner is aware of PONC's interest and open to discussion with the county. ° Presently, there are hoPONC-acquivedproparbms|nNordh and South Hilo Districts, |nthe north side of Hawo|'|Island, only one property has been acquired oofar: 1.8acreainH5rn5kuaDistrict atthe top o( Waipi'o Valley's lookout. Island -wide, there are no other PONC- acquired properties with similar abundance of perennial stream, estuarine, and riparian resources, and the associated, scientific research potentials. • Pub|icacqui |�xm ofthese parcels would present the opportunity for commun|tymono��nent of a beloved area, cherished for its: spectacular beauty accessibility tothe ocean; and abundant natural resources. The K8akahaoa|naF|ih|ngAssociation has proposed a stewardship plan which would engage the broader community and is willing to spearhead the stewardship effort. A petition of support for the acquisition signed 6vclose to6Dlocal residents has been submitted. w The H5m5kua Community Development Plan Action Committee has endorsed the proposal to acquire these properties. ~ The Hawai'i State Division of Aquatic Resources has submitted a letter of support for this citizen -led effort to preserve the LowerKawm|nu| River, � Letters of support have been received from present and former County Council persons and several nonprofit organizations. � Much of the land along the lower elevations of the Hilo-H5mAkua coast has been affected by extensive, past sugar cane cultivation. Much of what remained of the earliest Native Hawaiian settlement, Le., trails, house sites, agricultural plots, shrines, temples, etc. were sadly scraped away and plowed under in favor nfsugar cultivation, Remnants o[early settlements continue toexist |nKawminuiGulch. Understanding mf Native Hawaiian cultural practices ofthis part of the island could beincreased through archaeological study, oral histories, and cultural surveys, should the properties be publicly acquired. � The tropical hardwoods that have been planted on the properties present unique and wide-ranging possibilities, Stewardship groups, inconsultation with the community, students, and forestry professionals,