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<br /> <br />Deanna S. Sako <br />Harry Kim <br />Finance Director <br />Mayor <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Hamana Ventura <br />Property Manager <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />County of Hawai‘i <br />DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE <br />25 Aupuni Street  Suite No. 2103  Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720-4245 <br />Phone (808) 961-8234  Fax (808) 961-8569 <br /> <br />December 1, 2017 <br /> <br />NEWS RELEASE <br /> <br />Open Space Commission Seeking Proposals regarding Properties <br />to be Permanently Preserved <br /> <br />Do you know of a special property in Hawai‘i County that should be permanently <br />preserved? The County of Hawai‘i Public Access, Open Space and Natural <br />Resources Preservation Commission (PONC) encourages the public to propose <br />properties that should be purchased. Forms to suggest properties can be <br />downloaded from the County of Hawai‘i website at: 2018 Suggestion Forms (10- <br />9-17) or by obtaining a form at the address below. Suggestion forms are due by <br />4:30 p.m. on FEBRUARY 28, 2018. <br /> <br />Commissioners review the suggestion forms submitted by the public, and <br />consider the significant factors of each property such as historic and culturally <br />important features; opportunities for outdoor recreation and education; public <br />access to beaches or mountains; preservation of forests, beaches, coastal areas, <br />and natural beauty; protection of natural resources and watershed lands; <br />potential partners for management; and the general benefits to the public. <br />Potential acquisitions are then prioritized and listed in a report that is sent to the <br />Mayor at the end of each year. The Mayor then forwards his recommendations to <br />the Hawai‘i County Council, which adopts resolutions to authorize property <br />purchases. For more information on the process, go to: Hawai'i County Charter <br />10-15, 10-16, and Code, Article 42 <br /> <br />Past open space purchases total 1,287 acres, and include Kāwā oceanfront <br />parcels in Ka‘ū; Kaiholena, Pa‘o‘o and Hāwī Banyan Trees property in North <br />Kohala; Kīpapa Park, White Sands Mauka and ‘O‘oma in North Kona; property <br />near Waipi‘o Lookout in Hāmākua; and the newly acquired Pohoiki Bay parcel in <br />Puna. <br /> <br />PONC funds are derived from 2% of Hawai‘i County’s annual real property tax <br />revenues. The County has also been able to obtain more than $7.5 million in <br />matching funds and donations from other sources to help purchase open space <br />properties. A Maintenance Fund has also been established to provide <br />Hawai‘i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer <br /> <br />