HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 486 Draft 01 2022-2024 COUNTY OF HAWAI`I •�4k.',' '/ STATE OF HAWAI'I
.*4:141
•
RESOLUTION NO. 486 24
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO ENTER INTO
NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE ACQUISITION OF LANDS OR A CONSERVATION
EASEMENT FOR ALL OR A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY IDENTIFIED AS TAX
MAP KEY (3) 7-1-003:010,ALSO KNOWN AS `ANAEHO`OMALU KAPALAOA,
SITUATED IN THE AHUPUA'A OF PU`UANAHULU, DISTRICT OF KONA,
UTILIZING THE PUBLIC ACCESS, OPEN SPACE,AND NATURAL RESOURCES
PRESERVATION FUND.
WHEREAS, Chapter 2, Article 42 of the Hawai`i County Code 1983 (2016 Edition, as
amended) (hereinafter"the Code") establishes a Public Access, Open Space, and Natural
Resources Preservation Fund; and
WHEREAS, Section 2-214.1(c) of the Code provides that the Public Access, Open
Space, and Natural Resources Preservation 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 the duties and
responsibilities of the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation
Commission (hereinafter "the Commission") include developing and submitting to the Mayor an
initial prioritized list of qualifying lands worthy of preservation and updating the list annually by
December 31 of each year; and
WHEREAS, `Anaeho`omalu Kapalaoa, as shown in"Exhibit A", attached hereto and
incorporated herein by reference, consists of approximately 27.38 acres, and is ranked as the
highest priority for acquisition in the Commission's 2023 Annual Report to the Mayor, dated
November 13, 2023; and
WHEREAS, on March 1, 2024, the State of Hawai`i Legacy Land Conservation
Commission recommended a Legacy Land Conservation Program grant award in the amount of
$3,000,000 to purchase `Anaeho`omalu Kapalaoa, providing a significant amount of matching
funding; and
WHEREAS, Section 2-218(a) of the Code provides, in pertinent part, that "[t]he 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 lands
where matching funding is available to leverage the County contribution"; and
WHEREAS, the `Anaeho`omalu Kapalaoa Property is an exceptional cultural and
natural landscape, containing Keahualono Heiau and Hi`iakaika`ale`i Heiau; ancient habitation
and cave complexes;petroglyph fields; mauka-to-makai and coastal trail networks; ecosystems
with endemic flora and fauna, including pristine anchialine pools teeming with `opae `ula(native
shrimp); and public access to the southern shoreline of`Anaeho`omalu Bay for sustenance
fishing, gathering, and other cultural practices; and
WHEREAS, the acquisition of title or a conservation easement for `Anaeho`omalu
Kapalaoa would be significantly beneficial to the County of Hawai`i for the following reasons:
(1) To safeguard invaluable cultural and natural resources;
(2) To preserve undeveloped coastal and beachfront land;
(3) To protect native species and their natural habitats;
(4) To maintain fresh water springs and anchialine ponds;
(5) To facilitate safe, legal, and responsibly-managed public access;
(6) To enable descendant- and community-based management and stewardship; and
(7) To perpetuate the lifestyle, culture, and history of Pu'uanahulu; and
WHEREAS, the current landowner has expressed interest in a preservation sale of the
property, providing the County with a special opportunity for acquisition and management; and
WHEREAS, several community stakeholders, including Na `Oiwi 0 Pu'uanahulu, Hui
Aloha Kiholo, and the Ala Kahakai Trail Association have signaled support to work in various
capacities with the County, the landowner, lineal descendants, and the broader community to
secure, establish, and maintain this proposed acquisition in order to perpetuate and protect the
cultural and natural resources of the area; 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 lands or a conservation easement for all or a portion
of the property identified as tax map key (3) 7-1-003:010, also known as `Anaeho`omalu
Kapalaoa, situated in the ahupua'a of Pu'uanahulu, district of Kona, utilizing the Public Access,
Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund.
2
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director of Finance is hereby authorized to
initiate any funding mechanisms required for the acquisition of lands or a conservation easement
for all or a portion of the property identified as tax map key (3) 7-1-003:010, also known as
`Anaeho`omalu Kapalaoa, situated in the ahupua`a of Pu'uanahulu, district of Kona, in
accordance with the terms of this resolution.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this
resolution to the Honorable Mitchell D. Roth, Mayor of the County of Hawai`i; Diane
Nakagawa, Director of Finance; Dawn N. S. Chang, Chairperson of the Board of Land and
Natural Resources; Stacy K. Ferreira, Administrator of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; and
Alexandra Kelepolo, Chairperson of the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources
Preservation Commission.
Dated at Hilo , Hawai`i,this 15th;day of May , 20 24.
INTRODUCED BY:
COUNCI- MBER, COUNTY OF HAWAI`I
COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE
County of Hawai`i AYES NOES ABS EX
Hilo, Hawai`i EVANS X
GALIMBA X
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by INABA X
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the KAGIWADA X
County of Hawaii on May 15, 2024
KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER X
KIERKIEWICZ X
ATTEST: KIMBALL X
LEE LOY X
VILLEGAS X
8 0 1 0
Reference: C-814/LAAC -53
TY CLERK IRPERSON&PRE IDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO. 486 24
3
EXHIBIT A
PRIORITY#1: 'ANAEHO'OMALU KAPALAOA
(Suggestion 23 01,Scored 95.71%)
Tax Map Key No. (3)7 1 003:010, consisting of approximately 27 acres
of the Pu`uanahulu Ahupua`a in the District of North Kona, Hawaii.
Y F � A
F
�N
. S
gym �';..1, e , .r,,,
.F" ..*,a ..,,' ...a a�'6 r "-.1 , ..- 3' .+x-37 ,f. -'..13,'y'" a ads..»,
.� .p,p" . w em �., „„
.,', ,. *„ate :, 'i ''+° "N< w P N� ^'� "''' ,�- 1 "`°"z.
.rat "' � f,-.,.• *. ZZok.+;
1 —r -'. ' :' �v y ys. """°,ram t`.a ,,-K <- ....ww„, -
,'fin' '..,p' ,, � „a,< ♦ ;to.-''S.. r�, ,i"y+o^a +T.<'''V4,k,«V _ "C.,,.,«
, - .p.« 'Y- I. -- ^."-I+.� ,..- 'q -.**-",'43.+m �g, "°`r ya:``
.'11
��'. "e.y _aka`` � _.. ,;Mrs,d- 9� s """�'"rrn'%q
'a' � - . - -�'g' x .'°'".,. oq, a., .�,.. "'tea+r a. t
s � �' s r a + w - " q � Wit'
r " &a ,l" 7. 4.,„ - rc 'S,. y ,� a - ,gyp
`4 P ,-, -,� z' ^�. ":s'i 7 " R` r,y 4 a , ..z.�''", �fitt` - ,..„,? 'l,-r
,+4a a^�..� � x+ '3l/..:3: � .,,,�.,�yyry.,, s � s�""r 3V s�+. ��s, Y ya° �, t rt �.r'
4y. J. a ;w .�' r.y, &ie 3 '.-3 w d ','^-ks Y�y.S tl FSO�' , K'' �!'.
,?'�,w aGss„ - .w„ ,... �.,�`�o" �� �� M,$_JJ;:xz„� •_. �'.r'"i«;�';-.'`s�'�.._�:_. :L.�.r�r !:�', .r"`��'�+.:
Figure 1.One of several rocky outcroppings along the shoreline which are used by fishermen and marine life. *PC:La Crivello
The 27.38 acre parcel located in Pu'uanahulu Ahupua'a in North Kona is currently owned by Waikoloa
Land and Cattle Company and was originally purchased for the purpose of expanding the Waikoloa Beach
Resort. Within this property is a concentrated and extensive network of intact ancient and historic trails
that serve as a connection between numerous significant biological-cultural areas including but not
limited to Keahualono Heiau, Hi'iakaika'ale'i Heiau, abrader quarries, habitation caves and complexes,
and countless petroglyphs.This coastal property is populated with native •insects, native crustaceans, and
native plants, including the rare endemic Hawaiian caper, the native 'opae'ula (Halocardina
rubra)maiapilo(Capparis sandwichiana) and the Halo meli maoli, or yellow-faced bees(Hylaeus sp.).
The `Anaeho'omalu Kapalaoa property holds a special place in the Native Hawaiian community of
Pu'uanahulu and represents an opportunity to reconnect and sustain a generational relationship of
Pu'uanahulu 'ohana to place. The trail system, which spans the property, extends into the adjacent
properties, indicating long-held connections amongst people and place for generations into the past.
These connections have the potential to remain in place long into the future for generations to come with
1-1
EXHIBIT A
the acquisition of this property. The continuum of this massive trail network extends mauka into
Pu'uanahulu, southwest into the Kiholo State Park Reserve, makai to Kahapapa and Ku'uali'i fishponds,
and at one time,the northeastern portion,which is now surrounded by Waikoloa Beach Resort, remained
completely intact.. It is critical that spaces such as this be protected immediatelyto supportthe continuity
of traditional, place-based practices.
ANTICIPATED USE
• Public access is primarily by foot only.
• Parking is located near the Lava Lava Beach Club,a short walk to the beach and the trail network
which provides direct access to the coastal and inland portions of the property, respectively.
• The coastal segment of the property is expected to remain accessible according to current access
standards. Future use of the coastal portion of the property would likely remain the same.
• Keahualono Heiau (Figure 2), a ceremonial platform built for Lonoikamakahiki, the boundary
marker between North Kona and South Kohala and the northern boundary of
Kekahawai'oleonakona (the waterless lands of Kona) is still used today to perpetuate traditional
Hawaiian practices.
,�
i^ ue"- -i. �a"'`' e ,''f- �^ Fx„-.?..g � u .r,'. . ,4 }
6144-
e.
4, r ,tea' r '',: t 0c k.c - ,-tr* w A i
.,,a ?— n u, ,P .�� +p#. s k,ntMy t, �'..a�+ ,�
� rtr xs�ar w a a, �` $j.°icy 7g 3�,�� t ,$ �r.�, r
,gz `a4 ;t. ' ,�P P°r am e x t- `s .� r. ,.- .xa.ws
�y s ."4 -,1zt- ^'mad,a r. ''., .»•*fit ' 5" _ "°'a."�r� a
4r.�nt:c -sea' �^ .F k ° *-s T ¢' Ar +°� ;.� �'
s, yF ,fir ,y.! .'"Pk .. .ak" �x. r � PR' ' ,s
#,$ .F' .wi' '�4 s Rm' '.n. * d fY]`j ---,,,4. .,,4. Y ,y..
d. r . ° jat*'. ¢�s�.4 ' W1t< Y ip
;tom. k+ 4,,,,, -44 „ 35.4.,,, os��1 = �C , w a. ; MKS
� 3f:7"i.��nG���u f45� -'.LCL✓�i`'fer_a+'e/ !' k.,�3A.d.%�!'rrlt ti•7 +.Rti�.h'?y�►a..T'.a:�':�.�.J"'�.�7��T'r3'°�'A` ..ru'.
Figure 1. Keahualono Heiau,looking makai towards'Anaeho'omalu. *PC:Trust for Public Lands.
• Hi'iakaika'ale'i Heiau, which is suggested to have served as a ceremonial space for healing and
regrowth,will continue to be used for traditional practices relative to this heiauc.
• The Ala Nui Aupuni (Old Government Road) just east of the property is maintained across the
resort landscape, and is used for recreational and traditional cultural practices. The Ala Loa
(ancient trail network)within the lava flow of the property is still utilized by'ohana of Pu'uanahulu
as a way to maintain connections and reconnect with ancestral knowledge and experiences
through traditional cultural practices(Figure 4).Ala Kahakai Trail Association,Ala Kahakai National
1-2
EXHIBIT A
Historic Trail, and community members intend on hosting trail work days to maintain these trail
systems throughout the property.
SIGNIFICANCE AND MANAGEMENT
• Nonprofit Na 'Oiwi o Pu'uanahulu is the proposed future owner of'Anaeho'omalu Kapalaoa,with
the County of Hawaii' holding a Conservation Easement over the property to protect it in
perpetuity. Na 'Oiwi o Pu'uanahulu plans to partner with nonprofit Hui Aloha Kiholo, descendant
families, and the community to steward this 'aina as a kipuka where families can reconnect to
their ancestral lands and the broader community can help malama, care for, and restore its
precious cultural and natural resources.
• Currently,the Kiholo State Park Reserve is jointly managed by the Division of State Parks and Hui
Aloha Kiholo. Hui Aloha Kiholo acts as stewards of the Kiholo Bay,guided by lineal descendants of
the area. The property in Suggestion 23-01 could expand the protection on a landscape scale.
Several non-profit entities intend to be a part of the management of this parcel,including Na
o Pu'uanahulu, Hui Aloha Kiholo, and Ala Kahaki Trail Association. Hui Aloha Kiholo and Na 'Oiwi
o Pu'uanahulu share many of the same individuals, many of which are lineal descendants and
cultural practitioners of the area.Thus, it is likely that the cohesive landscape-scale management
of the natural and cultural resources would be successful in the future.
• A lava tube network covered with petroglyphs and including a pristine anchialine pool complex
extends from beneath Hi'iakaika'ale'i to the coast(Figure 2 and 6), providing habitat to 'opae'ula
(Halocardina rubra) and highlighting the unique underground water systems of
Kekahawai'oleonakona. Water is found to spring forth through these anchialine ponds from
underground aquifers and through punawai (springs) in the ocean.
• Areas of this region where water can be found were highly coveted and protected as they provide
the most fundamental resources for survival in a geographic area known for its harsh exposure to
the sun and heat. These precious coastal ecosystems are a part of the larger watershed which
extends to 'Anaeho'omalu Bay, a well-known site for traditional fisheries and fishing practices
which 'ohana continue to exercise today.
•The property contains many
*p' <x „ native plant species known for
ate, medicinal qualities and cultural
r practices such as 'uhaloa, kou,
milo, hala, and maiapilo
µ ;Aye - "� Figure 2.Rare maiapilo(Capparis
sandwichiana)thriving along the
4�'' a � '' � �-� ;- coastline. *PC:Jodie Rosam.
•
wfr Cry /
Aft
1-3
EXHIBIT A
SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACQUISITION AND/OR MANAGEMENT
• Because of the extensive resources on the property(primarily cultural resources),the landowner
is interested in selling the property for preservation.
• The resort adjacent to the property to the north has developed an extensive amount of coastline,
however; this property, along with the adjacent Kiholo State Park Reserve presents an
opportunity to protect one of the last undeveloped stretches of coastline in the area, while still
allowing public access of the shoreline and culturally significant resources.
.,y
Figure 4. An extensive trail
network within the lava
�' flows includes the Ala Loa,
' � which traverses through
.� ;::` �k conn
ects
,-- - � the property and
., i ,,: , - £* to the overarching ancient
""' `' k t ,:,�S `/�r4'^',,. , and historic trail system.
`4"` ,#c,,^'-s :C 4 4-r2A1,,,:4 �. t'Res S,F�c ' ,°�`r r ihty ..�-. y;
� -,t»*kr °r, ' �i aa�s� x � '*.�..�rv`rv�� �'4'sai'"a�.�"�� '� '.,fir alb *PC:La CrlVello.
Teig
� fit
= t4'..,� �,.?; ak"o-i r 'joe yam, r a.
_ • ,,, mar✓ x �+ "at �� 3'3'-M^ .r s r'3. �"
44
ry e„ „s!4.3-4,E.,.; eri" r-, _ r$� -' '' r
a ,, ,,,i ; i7.!p7s e }; ` ' '+am is ,
:', -.. ,_,, ,,,,,vv„::.
,,,,..„.....„,,,,..„„,:„..,,,,,,,„
✓'+ z.Y e.
'°� ¢ ,.�Sri ,G'� '"r,.,�z � 'i° „ , rw'S� �; r 3,,,� °`'z
1
-�4 �.r ., .,"t�`„ ,r 7 ra ,.i A• ,�rzk r yid 4 'it "F
r f� �,Cu.� ' E ��'.a.
ti.
V•Va ..�r.a� �t iys�''"f ��'*t 3 �}
�, 5' ,� -+^0.. '"d r �� 4,V* d rry.',r,. v ;.4- .4 �.rs r s
STRENGTHS
• It is a potential site for protecting natural and cultural resources, providing public access, partnerships and
- educational opportunities,and perpetuating Hawaiian cultural practices and access for continued practice.
• The protection of this property is critical to the management and protection of the Kona Watershed,as well
as groundwater recharge and coastal ecosystem health.
• The property is utilized by the public for fishing,gathering,surfing,cultural practices,and overall recreation.
• Na 'Oiwi o Pu'uanahulu and Hui Aloha Kiholo have expressed a willingness to play a role in ownership as
well as stewardship,ensuring descendant-led and community-based stewardship of the property.
• The landowner has provided a letter of intent to sell for preservation.
1-4
EXHIBIT A
•
''.sue s ,H 0 S� y} • p • 7 xs• r t fh b,.- i- A g Sr
, � r r a � Qr - rr y' ,s E � �: a :. ., � .,i rYI{ C n , amr�r t5 ,, � j -,-;,• , ,,.: g s •W � ;F � 3�
•
r 'di': . 7 c • • d f ,Y'r.,t.'+ .A ''' z
," ill
��� rt �T ".: ? � s• I� 4
2 f x
x. y W t ra � Sda
�•f a• iyMapesCon tnbutors," ,P.'.
ege a OntretM ap Micro a$t € ERE,s fi 3 ,fHawiiIDpartment EsnCommun,, d fCountyo T
a •sGarmiq�fGrpt ; cuo' , ,; , .` ae GeoTlogis,(ncMET/NASEISGS-EPA USCensus ua ,O p ; BuUSD Figure 5.Property location of TMK(3)7-1-003:010 as relative to'Anaeho'omalu Bay and the Lava Lava Beach Club.
•
End of Summary Report by Ms. La Crivello, Commissioner.
•
1-5