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_o � P A L A M A January 23, 2026 Re: Support for the Protection and Purchase of Ka'alaiki Kula, Ka'alaiki, Ka'u, Hawai'i Island To Whom It May Concern, Palama Foundation strongly supports the Ka'u community, Edith Kanaka'ole Foundation, and Trust for Public Land's effort to purchase and permanently protect Ka'alaiki Kula, approximately 1,600 acres of culturally and ecologically significant lands in Ka'alaiki, Ka'u, Hawai'i Island. Palama Foundation is a Hawaii-based philanthropic organization committed to the long-term protection of 'aina, the perpetuation of Indigenous knowledge systems, and the stewardship of places that hold deep cultural, historical, and environmental significance. Our mission aligns closely with the vision for Ka'alaiki Kula, where the preservation of the full ahupua'a supports cultural education, ecological restoration, and the intergenerational transmission of'ike Hawaii. Ka'alaiki Kula spans from Highway 11 on the makai side to Ka'alaiki Road on the mauka side, forming a critical corridor within the ahupua'a. Protecting these lands ensures that this intact landscape can continue to function as a living cultural classroom, demonstrating traditional Hawaiian land management practices while safeguarding invaluable cultural and archaeological sites, including the historic railroad trestle and 'Imakakaloa Heiau—one of only two intact hula heiau remaining in the Hawaiian Islands. If Ka'aWki Kula were to be developed, the impacts would be irreversible. Development would threaten the integrity of sacred sites, disrupt cultural practices tied to place, fragment native ecosystems, and sever the continuity of the ahupua'a system that has sustained generations. Such loss would extend beyond Ka'u, diminishing Hawai'i's collective cultural heritage and erasing opportunities for future generations to learn directly from the land. Phone: Email: Web Address: 808-225-5602 palamafoundation@gmail.com www.palamafoundation.com Sugg.26-05