HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 170 Draft 01 2020-2022A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO ENTER
INTO NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE ACQUISITION OF WAIʻELE IN THE DISTRICT OF PUNA, UTILIZING THE PUBLIC ACCESS, OPEN SPACE, AND NATURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION FUND.
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 Hawai‘i 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 Hawai‘i for the following purposes:
“(1) 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 Waiʻele would be significant to the County of Hawai‘i for the following reasons:
Preservation of historic and culturally important lands and sites that promote the perpetuation of native Hawaiian culture, tradition, and customary practices;
Preservation and protection of remaining native Hawaiian archeological structures and raised trails in an area that has been undisturbed since the 1880s;
Protection of one of the last hala groves in the area;
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 Nānāwale 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 pōhaku (stone) trail walked upon by Aliʻi, the endangered ‘io (Hawaiian hawk) and
‘ōpe‘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 HAWAI‘I 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 René Siracusa, who founded Malama O Puna, a non-profit volunteer service organization dedicated
to protecting the precious natural resources and heritage of Hawai‘i, and who was pivotal in placing Wai‘ele onto the Commission’s priority list.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaiʻi 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 Hawaiʻi 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 Hawai‘i County Cultural Resources Commission; the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission; and Malama O Puna.
Dated at _____________, Hawai‘i, this ______ day of ___________________, 20___.
INTRODUCED BY:
_______________________________________
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I
COUNTY COUNCIL
County of Hawai‘i
Hilo, Hawai‘i
ROLL CALL VOTE
AYES
NOES
ABS
EX
CHUNG
DAVID
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the
County of Hawai‘i on _____________________________________.
INABA
KĀNEALI‘I-KLEINFELDER
KIERKIEWICZ
KIMBALL
ATTEST:
LEE LOY
RICHARDS
VILLEGAS
Reference:
COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON & PRESIDING OFFICER
RESOLUTION NO.