2008-12-31 (2008 PONC Annual Report to the Mayor)

Home

SUMMARY OF KAWA PURCHASE On January 30, 2008, the County of Hawai` i completed its second purchase utilizing funds from the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund. The purchase price was $1,920,000.00 and consisted of approximately 234 acres (Tax Map KeyTdl 9 -5 -017: 007) of coastal property adjacent to Kawa Bay in the District of Ka`u, Island of Hawaii. The purchase was partially funded by a $1,214,750.00 grant from the State of Hawaii, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Legacy Land Program. The balance of approximately $705,250.00 was funded through the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund. The transaction is an ideal example of leveraging funding from the Public Access, Open Space and natural Resources Preservation Fund with State and Federal sources in the purchase and preservation of coastal open space. The Kawa area is one of the few surfing areas in the District ofKa`u containing an abundance of both cultural and natural resources. With the prior purchase of acreage at Honu`apo through a partnership between the State and County, the Kawa purchase is another major step towards the preservation of this dramatic coastline. The County is currently negotiating a purchase of another 550 acres at Kawa and has secured grant awards of another $1,500,000.00 from the State of Hawaii, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Legacy Land Program and $1,000,000.00 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Recovery Land Acquisition Program. Based on its acquisition of the property at Kawa, its _jurisdiction over the acreage at Honu`apo and its possible acquisition of additional acreage at Kawa, the County of Hawaii has contracted with the planning firm of Townscape, Inc. for the preparation of a Management Plan from Honu`apo to Kawa. The development of the Management Plan will be the first step towards the County's obligation towards stewardship of the lands. In the process of the development of the Management Plan, it is the hope that the County will be able to identify public, private and non - profit partnerships for the preservation, management and enhancement of cultural, natural and recreational resources within the lands it controls and along the entire coastline.