HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 170 Draft 01 2020-2022V 0
COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII
RESOLUTION NO. 170
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WHEREAS, in 2005, the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources
Preservation Fund (hereinafter "the Fund") was established by Ordinance No. 05-85, as codified
in Chapter 2, Article 42, of the Hawaii County Code 1983 (2016 Edition, as amended)
(hereinafter "the Code"); and
WHEREAS, Section 2-214.1(c) of the Code provides that the Fund shall be used for
acquiring lands or property entitlements in the County of Hawaii for the following purposes:
"(I) Public outdoor recreation and education, including access to beaches and
mountains;
(2) Preservation of historic or culturally important land areas and sites;
(3) Protection of natural resources, including buffer zones;
(4) Preservation of forests, beaches, coastal areas, natural beauty and agricultural
lands; and
(5) Protection of watershed lands to preserve water quality and water supply"; and
WHEREAS, Section 2-217 of the Code provides, in part, that a duty and responsibility
of the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission (hereinafter
"the Commission") is to develop and submit to the Mayor an initial list of qualifying lands
worthy of preservation and to update the list at any time, but at least annually by December 31 of
each year; and
WHEREAS, Section 2-218(a) of the Code provides, in pertinent part, that: "The council
shall, by resolution, select the land or lands to be preserved..." and "[w]here there are multiple
lands under consideration at any one time, priority shall be given to coastal lands..."; and
WHEREAS, acquisition of Wai'ele would be significant to the County of Hawaii for
the following reasons:
1. Preservation of historic and culturally important lands and sites that promote the
perpetuation of native Hawaiian culture, tradition, and customary practices;
2. Preservation and protection of remaining native Hawaiian archeological structures
and raised trails in an area that has been undisturbed since the 1880s;
3. Protection of one of the last hala groves in the area;
4. Access for shoreline gathering, fishing, education, recreation, and cultural practices,
mainly lauhala and la'au lapa'au; and
WHEREAS, the old coastal village of Wai'ele in the ahupua'a of Kanekiki, situated
between Ndndwale Forest Reserve and Kahuwai, totals 165 acres with 2,000 feet of shoreline,
and contains sacred treasures such as fresh water springs, rare groves of kukui, hau and hala
trees, an ancient p6haku (stone) trail walked upon by Alii, the endangered 'io (Hawaiian hawk)
and '6pe'ape'a (Hawaiian bat), the rare pueo (Hawaiian owl), and ancient Hawaiian burial sites;
and
WHEREAS, authorization to negotiate for acquisition of Wai'ele using the Fund was
previously adopted through Resolution 286-07, sponsored by then -Council Member Emily
Naeole, but significant time has lapsed, the parcel has yet to be acquired, and the Council seeks
to reestablish this authorization; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that
pursuant to Chapter 2, Article 42 of the Code, the Director of Finance is hereby authorized to
enter into negotiations for the acquisition of Wai'ele, identified as tax map key numbers (3) 1-4-
003:003 and (3) 1-4-003:037, in the district of Puna, utilizing the Public Access, Open Space,
and Natural Resources Preservation Fund.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the acquisition of Wai'ele would honor the life and
legacy of Ren6 Siracusa, who founded Malama 0 Puna, a non-profit volunteer service
organization dedicated to protecting the precious natural resources and heritage of Hawaii, and
who was pivotal in placing Wai'ele onto the Commission's priority list.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii County Council encourages public-
private -philanthropic partnerships with organizations that possess the knowledge, skills, and
capacity to contribute towards management and stewardship of Wai'ele.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii County Cultural Resources
Commission is encouraged to support this potential acquisition, and to be part of co -creating
stewardship and placemaking plans for Wai'ele.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this
resolution to Honorable Mayor Mitchell D. Roth; the Director of the Department of Finance; the
Director of the Planning Department; the Hawaii County Cultural Resources Commission; the
Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission; and Malarna 0
Puna.
Dated at
COUNTY COUNCIL
County of Hawaii
Hilo, Hawaii
Hawaii, this _ day of
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the
County of Hawaii on
ATTEST:
Kul
INTRODUCED BY:
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAII
COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON & PRESIDING OFFICER
ROLL CALL VOTE
AYES NOES ABS EX
CHUNG
DAVID
INABA
KANEALI'l-KLEINFELDER
KIERKIEWICZ
KIMBALL
LEE LOY
RICHARD
VILLEGAS
Reference: C-333/FC
RESOLUTION NO. 170 21