RES 513 Draft 01 2024-2026 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

WHEREAS, Beldon K. Kealoha Trust, the landowner, partnered with Hawaiian Islands Land Trust, doing business as Hawaii Land Trust (hereinafter "HILT"), a Hawaii nonprofit organization and nationally accredited land trust to raise funds to permanently protect the Kealoha Family Lo`i, and Beldon K. Kealoha Trust desires to grant a conservation easement to HILT as the Administrative Holder and Co -Holder and the County as Co -Holder in order to permanently protect the Kealoha Family Lo`i; and WHEREAS, the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, Agricultural Land Easement (hereinafter "USDA NRCS ACEP-ALE") has awarded a grant in the amount of $150,000.00, not to exceed 50% of the estimated fair market value of the conservation easement, providing matching funding toward the purchase of the conservation easement, subject to the County becoming an authorized co -holder within HILT's existing USDA NRCS ACEP-ALE Program Agreement; and WHEREAS, HILT intends to work with the County and the landowner to secure, establish, and maintain the proposed conservation easement to perpetuate and protect these culturally, ecologically, and historically significant agricultural lands in perpetuity; and WHEREAS, the acquisition of a conservation easement for the Kealoha Family Lo`i would be significantly beneficial to the County for the following reasons: (1) Preservation in perpetuity of productive agricultural lands featuring an intact historic lo`i kalo, which was spared from sugar cultivation; (2) Protection of natural resources and restoration of ecological functions within Niuli`i Stream down to Keokea Bay; and (3) Protection and perpetuation of cultural and `dina-based education and connections, and traditional agricultural practices of Kohala; and WHEREAS, there has been great support from community organizations for the conservation of the Kealoha Family Lo`i, including Kohala Hawaiian Civic Club, Protect Pololu, North Kohala Culture and History Advisory Group, Ka Makani o Kohala `Ghana, Kahua Pa`a Mua, along with HILT; 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 a conservation easement for all or a portion of the properties identified as Tax Map Key Nos. (3) 5-2-009:025 and 026, also known as the Kealoha Family Lo`i, situated in the Ahupua`a ofNiuli`i, District of North Kohala, utilizing the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director of Finance is hereby authorized to initiate any funding mechanisms required for the acquisition of conservation easements for all or a portion of the properties hereinabove identified in accordance with the terms of this resolution.