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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0284.060 2020-2022 Maile David,Chairperson Aaron Chung,Vice Chair .,. County Council,County of Hawaii H A Yet A I t 1 25 Aupuni Street,Hilo,Hawaii 96720-4252 L A N D T R U S T RE: Tuesday,July 7,2021,County Council Meeting Testimony in Support of Resolution 145-21 Board of Directors 2021 Aloha mai e Chair David,Vice Chair Chung and Members of the County Council, Board Chair Hawaiian Islands Land Trust,d/b/a Hawaii Land Trust("HILT")is Hawai`i's Mary Charles islands-wide land trust that is both a Hawaii 501(c)3 nonprofit,and a nationally Tice Chair accredited land trust. Our mission is to protect and steward the lands that sustain Lisa Grove Hawaii,and to perpetuate Hawaiian values by connecting people to `aina.HILT holds 41 conservation easements restricting private land use(14 on Hawaii Treasurer Island),owns and stewards 7 preserves statewide(I on Hawaii Island),protecting Keith Ogata over 21,000 acres throughout the pae `aina. Secretary HILT humbly submits this letter of support for Resolution 145-21 for the Jennifer Luck permanent protection of Mahukona. Past Chair As HILT and Na Kalai Wa`a's POMC nomination for 642 acres of Mahukona's Jonathan Scheuer lands were ranked#1 in 2020,Mahukona is a priority land protection effort for HILT.We would like to share a few land acquisition updates and project Neil Hannahs highlights: Matt Beall • HILT secured an Option Agreement to purchase the 642 acres of Mahukona lands. Le`ahi Hall . HILT submitted a federal funding application for USFWS Recovery Land Acquisition funds.This program's purpose is to protect habitat for Larry Stevens threatened and endangered species and if funded,HILT has committed to cultural and community based stewardship of the lands for the protection Jody Kaulukukui of threatened and endangered species habitat. This funding application is Marissa Harman done in partnership with DLNR DOFAW. • The project structure proposed by project partners and the community Randy Vitousek involves HILT as the buyer and future fee owner,the County of Hawaii as the sole holder of a conservation easement,and Na Kalai Wa`a,local Jocelyn Herbert 501(c)(3),as a core stewardship partner.The fee and conservation easement are to be structured as back to back transactions. Theresa Young Home to over 175 cultural sites including Ko`a Heiau Holomoana,these Mahukona lands were once slated for resort development along the Kohala President&CEO coastline—and is now affording us an opportunity to permanently protect the Laura H.E.Kaakua lands and waters that have and continue to teach generations of navigators and provide a sense of reprieve and well-being for Kohala and Hawaii island families.HILT is working in partnership with Na Kalai Wa`a,local 501(c)(3),the ph:808.791.0729 four Kohala community groups who also submitted the#3 ranking 2020 PONC 126 Queen St., Ste. 306 nomination, and the greater Kohala and Hawaii Island community to protect Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Mahukona. HILT and project partners are diligently working to ensure access and www.hilt.org stewardship to lands that can continue to serve as a hub for educational, environmental,and cultural resiliency. 1�t Comm. N ISOU Ref.To: VAQ1 _ Ref. Date AUL – 2021 POMC funds are critical to ensure Hawaii Island's most precious lands,food,and water sources are protected in perpetuity. When done in close partnership with HAWA `I `ohana and communities of place,this support can also build community L A N D T R U S T resiliency and overall health. HILT's staff,board members,and network of supporters are"all-hands-on-deck"to work towards a successful land acquisition effort for Mahukona over the next few years and post acquisition,are committed to supporting indigenous lead stewardship here at Mahukona. HILT is humbled to Board of Directors have the opportunity to work with the County and other public and private funders 2021 on this important and exciting land conservation acquisition effort. Board Chair Mahalo nui loa for your public service and for the opportunity to submit testimony Mary Charles in support of Resolution 145-21.We look forward to working collaboratively to Vice Chair protect our most special places in the County of Hawaii. Lisa Grove Malama pono,g Ttrasuirr Keith Ogata '_.. Shae Kamakaala Secretary Director of`Aina Protection,shae(ahilt.org, 808-940-0639 Jennifer Luck Past Chair Jonathan Scheuer Neil Hannahs Matt Beall Le`ahi Hall Larry Stevens Jody Kaulukukui Marissa Harman Randy Vitousek Jocelyn Herbert Theresa Young President&CEO Laura H. E.Kaakua ph:808.791.0729 126 Queen St., Ste. 306 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 www.hilt.org