2024-03-11 Minutes APPROVED - Laserfiche WebLink

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JILL WAGNER, spoke in support of Sugg. 24-02 and how she acquired this beautiful property with the plan to create an arboretum. Her intention is to create a garden that people can come to visit and learn about Hawaii's dry forest. The major portion of the garden is restoration of the dry forest. She hosts school children each month, and provide a learning experience, including taxonomy, collecting seeds, planting native plants. She plans to build a pavilion so groups can come and have a covered space which can also be used for events. She is President of the Chamber Orchestra of Kona, a community orchestra of musicians who play for the love of music and this could provide a venue where they can also rehearse. Cmr. Ward asked if the additional 10 acres is excluded completely. Ms. Wagner replied yes. Cmr. Ward asked if she could expand on that timber zone that's mentioned as it seems other varieties of plants will be growing there as well. Jill replied that she's been part of the Hawaiian forest industry for decades, and the timber zone is tropical arbor trees. There are non-invasive trees, like Mahogany, in Hawaii which are very important for doing land-based projects other than development. Her ultimate goal is for people to come and learn, and these tree species are popular for timber in other places as well as Hawai'i. She added that the dry forest is one of the most rarest eco-systems in the world;there's only less than 10% in Hawai'i, and it's very important. The property has no irrigation, it's all natural, and in three years, it's really thriving. V. Chr. Rosam asked, I know you're committed to native forests and native plants in the future, but I don't understand why in a group garden forest would you plant Australian and South American cactuses. Ms. Wagner replied that the way she learns about botany and taxonomy is very broad. She started the Hawai'i Island Seed Bank in 2008, and the seed bank is housed at the Joseph Rock Arboretum. She trains people all over the world about how to collect their native seeds in their region, and to help them to save their native seeds, and part of that is really understanding and knowing about plants in many places in the world, and really understanding the importance of ecosystems and regions all over the world, and that's what our agreements do. A discussion ensued between commissioners and Ms. Wagner. Cmr. Crivello noticed that there's numerous support letters from the community but has she done any outreach with any of the cultural descendants, practitioners in the area and whether they are interested in providing input and being a part of the process. Ms. Wagner replied that yes, she intends to do so and has been working with Kepa Maly who has provided preliminary maps and background information along with support. Cmr. Plunkett asked about public benefit for the conservation easement and succession, stewardship goals in relation to a property that has private interests. He is asking this question because in his previous experience working with properties that last over the Minutes of March 11, 2024 Page 6