Laserfiche WebLink
I ' ll D T R <br /> January 22, 2025 <br /> RE: WILLING CONSERVATION EASEMENT HOLDER LETTER FOR KEALOHA LO`I <br /> Aloha mai kakou, <br /> Hawaiian Islands Land Trust, d/b/a Hawaii Land Trust("HILT")is Hawai`i's islands-wide land <br /> trust that is both a Hawai'i 501(c)3 nonprofit, and a nationally accredited land trust. Our mission is to <br /> protect and steward the lands that sustain Hawai'i, and to perpetuate Hawaiian values by connecting <br /> people with `a—ma. HILT has protected over 22,000 acres throughout Hawai'i, owns and stewards 8 <br /> preserves throughout the islands, and holds 54 conservation easements permanently protecting <br /> conservation values of private lands across Hawaii. HILT prioritizes the protection of Hawaiian <br /> cultural landscapes, coastlines, and lands that grow healthy food for Hawai`i's people. <br /> HILT confirms its willing to co-hold an agricultural conservation easement("CE") restricting <br /> and protecting approximately 2.39 acres consisting of TMKs 5-2-009:025 and 5-2-009:026 in <br /> the Niuli`i, Kohala,Hawaii Island. <br /> HILT wholeheartedly supports the permanent protection of the Kealoha Lo`i through a CE proposed <br /> to be co-held by HILT and the County of Hawaii. The storied and once abundant lands of Niuli`i <br /> offer this unique opportunity to permanently protect ancient lo`i lands still in cultivation today, <br /> reconnecting the community back to the lands and lifestyles that sustain us. <br /> Thus far, HILT has secured U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Agricultural <br /> Conservation Easement Program(ACEP)funding support and has closed several agricultural <br /> conservation easement projects with NRCS ACEP funding. HILT is committed to working in <br /> partnership with NRCS ACEP and the County of Hawaii to complete this Kealoha Lo`i CE project. <br /> HILT monitors all of the conservation easements it holds and co-holds annually (54 conservation <br /> easements at the time of this letter) and takes appropriate steps to bring conservation easements back <br /> into compliance in the event that any term of a conservation easement is not followed in the future. <br /> As an accredited land trust, Hawaii Land Trust follows best standards and practices in conservation <br /> easement drafting, monitoring, and violation correction. Mahalo for the opportunity to share HILT's <br /> support and enthusiastic willingness to serve as conservation easement co-holder. <br /> Malama pono (take care), <br /> Gaa—g�� <br /> Shaelene Kamakaala <br /> Director of`Aina Protection <br /> Hawaii Land Trust <br /> r'i"ind I rus[ 1 1108 Queen Street,Suite 306,Honolulu,Hawaii,96813 1 808.744.AINA I I Ili. I oi'(j <br />