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other families in the area, provides potential benefits to native species, habitat, flood control and <br />mitigation, community resilience to climate change, and culturally significant food for the <br />community. <br />The Hawai'i Land Trust (HILT) is willing to co -hold with the County of Hawaii an agricultural <br />conservation easement (CE) to assist the permanent protection of the Kealoha Lo'i. That <br />assistance includes annual monitoring of the CE in accordance with best standards and <br />practices in CE drafting, monitoring, and violation correction. HILT currently holds 54 permanent <br />CEs of private lands throughout Hawai'i. <br />A fully executed Agricultural Conservation Easement contract with the USDA Natural Resources <br />Conservation Service (NRCS) for $150,000 towards the purchase of an <br />agricultural/conservation easement has been committed This is one-half of the estimated cost of <br />the CE, but the NRCS funds must be dispersed by March 31, 2027. Timely acquisition of the CE <br />is urgently needed. <br />STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES <br />• Years ago, the Kealoha family had to prove to the State that they had rights to use the water <br />from the streams. Fortunately, they succeeded and their ability to draw water from the stream to <br />raise kalo is secure. <br />• There are no known encumbrances, covenants, restrictions, or hazards on the property. All <br />property taxes are paid and up to date. <br />• Without successful completion of the CE, the property may be at risk for sale to a new <br />landowner with no interest in protecting the ancient lo'i. <br />Report by: Deborah Chang and Maya Goodoni, PONC Commission <br />Photos by: Deborah Chang and Deborah Ward, PONC Commission <br />