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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0122.010 2022-2024 P /COMC-11 Res. X-23 COW. 112 IIr . HAWAII LAND TRUST March 22,2023 COUNTY CLERK Heather L. Kimball,Chair&Presiding Officer COUNTY OF HAWAII Dr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Vice ChairRECEIVED Timms :Ii, ,m, Bj County Council,County of Hawaii DateMAR-'2 1 ?(7?3 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Bldg.A,Kailua-Kona, Hawaii RE: Testimony in Support of Resolution 60-23(Draft 2) Aloha mai e Chair Kimball, Vice Chair Inaba and Members of the County Council, HILT humbly submits this letter of support for Resolution 60-23 (Draft 2) for the permanent protection of Kaumaui. Permanent Protection via a Conservation Easement As HILT and Hui Ho`oleimaluo's PONC nomination ranked#2 in 2021,Kaumaui is a priority land protection effort,being PONC's first hopeful protection effort in the moku(district)of Hilo. The Kaumaui acquisition opportunity is for the County of Hawaii and HILT to together purchase a conservation easement from the landowners and stewards, Hui Ho`oleimaluo,a local 501(c)(3).A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and in this case, a government agency and qualified conservation land trust,that permanently limits uses of the land in order to protect its conservation values. Conservation easements allow landowners to continue to own and steward their land,while its limitations on use"run with the land in perpetuity,"meaning the conservation easement restrictions remain in place forever. Before the Council is the opportunity to authorize the County Director of Finance to enter negotiations with Hui Ho`oleimaluo as the landowner and willing seller of a conservation easement and HILT as the co-holder of the hopeful conservation easement with the County. Hawaiian Islands Land Trust,d/b/a Hawaii Land Trust(HILT)is Hawai`i's islands-wide land trust that is both a Hawaii 501(c)3 nonprofit, and a nationally accredited land trust. Our mission is to protect and steward the lands that sustain Hawaii,and to perpetuate Hawaiian values by connecting people to `aina. HILT holds 50 conservation easements restricting private land use(14 on Hawaii Island,with 2 HILT is currently working to protect), owns and stewards 7 preserves statewide(1 on Hawaii Island, with 1 we are working to protect), protecting over 21,903 acres throughout the pae`aina(islands)to date. Threats & Opportunity Hawaii Land Trust 1 126 Queen Street,Suite 306,Honolulu,Hawaii,96813 1 808.744.AINA I hilt.org Comm.N . :Ref,To: Ref.Date HAWAII LAND TRUST The community of Keaukaha faces tremendous development and vacation rental pressure that threatens Keaukaha's natural ecosystems and way of life. The development potential for this property is great,potentially providing up to eight vacation rental units on just three acres of land,the majority of which are ponds. HILT looks forward to advancing this rare partnership opportunity with the County of Hawaii, Hui Ho`oleimalu6, and Ka `Umeke Kd'eo public charter school to ensure the permanent protection of Kaumaui and support organizations and institutions that serve the greater community of all ages for the continued stewardship, community connection, and the transmission of the multitudes of cultural practices that are involved in tending to Hilo's and Hawai`i's fishpond ecosystems. Ma Uka to Ma Kai Protection& Stewardship HILT also prioritizes this protection effort as our strategic plan looks to landscape level projects like this, where we see ma uka to ma kai protection and stewardship with HILT's Kukuau Community Forest that we own and steward to build a resilient buffer for Hilo's koa and `6hi`a forest.' See map illustration provided below. PONC funds are critical to ensure Hawaii Island's most precious lands, food, and water resources are protected in perpetuity. This support,when done in close partnership with `ohana and communities of place, also builds community resiliency and overall health. Mahalo nui loa for your public service and for the opportunity to submit testimony in support of Resolution 60-23 (Draft 2). We look forward to working collaboratively to protect our most special places in the County of Hawaii. Malama pono, Xhaeamakaala , Director of`Aina Protection, shae@hilt.org, 808-940-0639 'Kukuau is also home to endangered loulu, `io(Hawaiian Hawk), `ape`ape`a(Hawaiian hoary bat),the Hawaiian picture- wing fly,and other native species that are ecologically and culturally important to sustain Hilo's lifeways.HILT is working to build its community forest programming while working with large landowner neighbors,led by Kukuau Steward and Educator,Ulumauahi Kealiikanakaoleohaililani. Hawaii Land Trust 1 126 Queen Street,Suite 306,Honolulu,Hawai'i,96813 1 808.744.AINA I HILT.org 9 i KAUMAUI & KUKUAU COMMUNITY FOREST s t Hilo Forest Reserve(Watershed Reserve Sec.) �h Hilo Forest a Reserve,- (Kukuav Sec.) Hilo Forest _Reserve(KI) Welekee Upper Weiakes m'1 Forest Forest Reserve . Reserve Protected a HILT's Kukuau Community Forest 2019(1640 Acres) - p 'a \ HILT Facilitated Project 2008(1335 Acres) F '� O a Reserves � a To Be Protected °1 K a u P H A W A I I LAND TRUST KaUmalll(3 Acres)