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� United States Department of the Interior <br /> National Park Service <br /> Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail <br /> 73-4786 Kanalani St., #14 <br /> Kailua Kona, Hawaii 96740 <br /> Tel: (808) 217-0307 <br /> Fax: (808) 329-2597 <br /> January 15, 2025 <br /> Ho'ala Kealakekua Nui <br /> P.O. Box 1301 <br /> Kealakekua, Hawai'i 96750 <br /> Subject: Support for Acquisition in Fee of TMK (3) 8-1-009:007 and TMK (3) 8-1-009:008) <br /> at Ka'awaloa, South Kona, Hawai'i Island <br /> Aloha, <br /> Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, NPS strongly supports Ho'ala Kealakekua Nui's, and Trust for <br /> Public Land's efforts to purchase "Kokua Kealakekua", composed of a total of 1.26 acres at <br /> Ka'awaloa, South Kona, Hawai'i Island. <br /> The Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail's (NHT) 175-mile corridor was designated in 2000 to <br /> administer the management, preservation, protection and interpretation of a system of ancient <br /> and historic trails from Upolu Point around South Point and into Hawaii Volcanoes National <br /> Park. It is the policy of this NHT to support and build capacity for descendant-led, community <br /> based/driven trail management based on traditional ahupua'a land and marine management <br /> and values in a manner that is inclusive of all members of the community. <br /> Ala Kahakai staff has been in close collaboration with the Kealakekua community and <br /> associated organizations, including State Parks, on several initiatives consistent with the above <br /> stated policy. Being aware of the carrying capacity issue at Ka'awaloa, we have deployed trail <br /> user counters on the trail and provide this data monthly to HKN and other government and <br /> NGO collaborators. The Ka'awaloa trail remains unmanaged. Most trail users enter <br /> unprepared for the elevation change, heat, lack of hydration, and proper PPE attire. Parking at <br /> trail head is inadequate and not managed. <br /> Working is close collaboration with State Parks, we are poised to initiate the stabilization and <br /> restoration of a causeway, on a section of the Ka'awaloa trail. The collapse was caused by the <br /> 2006 earthquake. Ho'ala Kealakekua Nui and another Kealakekua non-profit, Ike Lawai'a are <br /> involved in the planning and will be partnering with us on community engagement and <br /> education for this project. This project will begin in June of this year. <br /> Kokua Kealakekua is strategically located across the road from the popular Ka'awaloa trailhead <br /> (Captain Cook Monument Trail), which is the main public access to the north end of Kealakekua <br />