MIN CHARTER 2019-01-25 (2018-2020)

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Hawai`i County Charter Commission -7 January 25, 2019 benefit, then future generations will have been deprived of a precious land to enjoy. I also oppose CA -7 because it removes the maintenance fund from the Charter into the County Code where it can be modified by the Mayor and the Council. This fund should be held constant to facilitate planning for future generations. In addition, I oppose CA -7 because it removes the clause that protects lands in perpetuity. Meaning lands bought by PONC could be sold. This will compromise the County's ability to obtain matching funds from State and Federal agencies. For example, back in November of2016, PONC was able to close on a parcel of land with a purchase price of 2.6 million dollars by spending only $764,745, call it three-quarters of a million. Two point six million versus less than a million. How did they do it? By securing matching funds. The Department of Fish and Wildlife kicked in One Million, Two -Hundred and Fourteen Thousand Dollars and the State's Legacy Land Grant Program donated $621,245. What did PONC do? Only six years of planning, negotiating, report writing, inspections, presentations, and drawing up agreements. A lot of work, but worth every penny to save a mile of ocean front including critical Hawksbill turtle breeding beaches and to save 3,128 acres of unique cultural sites and important geological features from private development. PONC is hugely successful, but it cannot operate in a vacuum. It needs State and Federal partners. If we are to make changes, let's strengthen the program to attract more partners to help us. Allowing land purchased by PONC to be sold, will be turning away the help we really need. I support CA -9 and support all proposals to strengthen the two percent land fund program. I support the idea of having a full-time staff person working only on acquiring lands for PONC. His or her job would entail acquiring property, obtaining matching funds, helping the public with suggestion forms, and stewardship applications at the administration of the maintenance fund. I am acquainted with the work of Ms. Alexandra Kelepolo who for ten years was PONC's property management technician until she resigned in January of 2017. During her tenure, PONC became one of the most successful open space programs in the State of Hawai`i. When she resigned, the County had preserved over 4,400 acres of land for open space preservation. She was dedicated and self- motivated elfmotivated and future generations will thank her. I know Hamana Ventura is dedicated, but I understand his skills were employed in relocating cattle during the eruption and is now tasked with doing an inventory for Public Works. I am sure there are others that could be recruited to step in Alexandra's shoes and work full-time for PONC. I would encourage the holder of this position to work closely with non-profit organizations dedicated to conserving land, such as Trust for Public Land or the Nature Conservancy. To share skills and knowledge to efficiently and successfully close land deals that would benefit future generations. In this way, the holder of this position can hit the ground ruining. I gratefully thank you for the opportunity to testify. I hope my words have not fallen on deaf ears. Mahalo. Page 28