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4)Preservation of forests, including beaches, coastal areas,natural beauty, and agricultural lands Beaches, Coastal Areas: The proposed purchase and subsequent management of this parcel would protect and enhance the natural beauty and quality of the forest,valley and coastal area of North Hilo/Hamakua. While this parcel is mainly zoned Conservation and no further development pressure exists, due to the building of the house gates over the Ala Loa community access is currently restricted, and therefore exists a likely costly community battle to restore access. It may be more cost effective and beneficial for community relations to purchase easement or the parcel itself. Beaches and waterways such as at Ka'awali'i are precious, and the superior use of this parcel is not as a private coastal estate,but as a place of Community use and learning, especially with such able stewards as the LaupahoehoeTrain Museum and Laupahoehoe School can provide. The focus of the parcel would shift from private investment in a vacation rental-ed house and unmanaged wilderness (left to fill in with invasives after sugar impacts and grazing)to that of remediation and amplification of native ecosystem productivity via hands on indigenous knowledge systems for water management, agroforestry, and native species remediation, appreciation and use. Scenic Value, Natural beauty: From much of the parcel you cannot see or hear the highway, and the coastal vistas here are quite stunning, as a verdant cover of deep green forest is laid across black pebble beach and indigo waters,the twin gorges defining the Humu'ula prominence in the background topped with light green ranchland up the slopes to snowy Mauna Kea and blue skies above. We can imagine use of this space by a wide array of visual artists, and community stewardship would work to preserve and improve the natural resources and view planes for present and future generations to enjoy. The location of this parcel along the old Ala Loa, Mamalahoa, Railway and possible connection as an alternate pedestrian route to the Lower Cane Haul Road makes it a natural addition to the county's storied places of scenic interest. This work towards a "string of pearls" along the coastline would increase economic opportunity for nearby businesses in the area as well as the greater Hilo/Hamakua Heritage Coast. Important Agricultural Lands: "A review of the work performed by Newman indicates that the current project area falls in the Scattered Farms agricultural zone. This zone is defined as having low population density, dispersed settlement with few fishing villages at the coast, and scattered fields and gardens with no major field systems (Newman 2000)." (Hawaii State D.O.T. 2oio EA for Ka'awali'i Improvements Section 4) Handy and Handy(1972:538) reported taro terraces "in and below" Laupahoehoe and Maulua awawa in the late i800s. Some sweet potatoes were grown in all three awawa and in the vicinity of Ka'awali'i, sweet potatoes "used to rival taro as a staple." Handy(194O:164)noted "former taro lands along the lower slopes ... are now covered by sugar cane." (Hawai`i D.O.T. 2010 EA for Ka'awali'i Improvements pg208) "E Makoa e, run to Laupahoehoe and meet with the ali`i who are residing there and say to them that I [page 1881 crave the kihikihi sweet potato, and also some of it mashed, and also some n6pili [goby fish] of the upland stream of LauP ahoehoe.You have heard. Run and tell them of my craving."Words of Kamehameha, Hilo Paliku- Maly, Page 35 The Hamakua coast area where Ka'awali'i resides is characterized as one of exceptionally deep, rich soil,with abundant rain and running water and is therefore one of the top agricultural zones on the island. Significant freshwater resources run thru Ka'awali'i valley itself, and along the valley walls a of this 13 + acre parcel, Sugg.26-02 12