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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0459.100 2024-2026MALAMA O PUNA P.O Box 1467 Pahoa, Hawaii 96778 (808) 965-2000 www.malamaopuna.org " malamaopuna@yahoo.com Protecting Hawaii's precious natural heritage o C') 00 Date: August 25, 2025 co o < To: Hawaii County Council, Legislative Approvals & Acquisition Committee (LAAC) From: Malama O Puna, 501c3 Nonprofit 10 y' � T' RE: Resolution 286-25 Urging the Mayor to Purchase Honolulu Landing under the PONC Aloha Esteemed Councilmembers, We very much appreciate Councilmember Kierkierwicz bringing this resolution forward to elevate the importance of moving on this purchase of an historic ahupua'a (Honolulu) in the Puna District. This property consists of two TMKs and has been on the PONC purchase list since nearly the beginning of that program implemented in 2006. Through Resolution 267-07, this property known as Honolulu Landing was designated as eligible for the County to negotiate its purchase. Now, 18 years later, the need to pursue that purchase has become quite urgent. We have a willing seller and the valuation of the 364 acres, contained in the two parcels, is being aggressively marketed for approximately $4M. The one TMK containing 30 acres is a narrow strip of ocean front property, providing nearly one mile of ocean front, and is being marketed separately from the mauka parcel containing 334 acres which is zoned Al a. These conditions make it likely that a private buyer will snap up these properties. The ocean front parcel has long been used by the public to access the ocean for fishing, gathering, and general recreational purposes. The mauka parcel is the site of a Hawaiian Village with many living lineal descendants and contains a bounty of cultural features which fortunately have not been disturbed with development. Puna lost significant ocean access in the 2018 eruption and very much needs to keep this property in public hands. Of the 25 properties purchased under PONC since its inception nearly twenty years ago, only two properties in Puna have been purchased (see attachment). A group of supporters including several lineal descendants met with the Mayor on Aug. 11, 2025 to ask him to move forward with purchasing the property. The land manager for the PONC program is now back at his desk after an extensive five -month leave of absence and is working to produce a market assessment which he informed me could take 45-60 days. We have access to the seller's market assessment which is important as assessments can vary widely depending on the conditions and restrictions applied. We feel the value the seller has assigned is not out of line with market values for similar parcels and hope the County's assessment comes in at around the same valuation given the PONC rules stipulate the County cannot pay more than the market assessment. Comm. •I�/� Ref. To: Ref. Date - 2025 In addition to working closely with the property's land agent in an attempt to ward off, a private sale before the County can take action, we launched a petition that has now bee9l signed by over 1,100 persons. We printed out the signatures as of Aug. 111 for our meeting with the May r (over 100 pages!) and don't wish to burden the Council with all that paperwork. Attached is a copy of the petition which received 206 wet ink signatures and is now well over 900 signatures on the online version accessed at this link: https://www.change.org/p/petition-from-honolulu-landing-hui The attendees at the Aug. 11'h meeting with the Mayor represented five different nonprofits willing to steward this property. Three of those nonprofits are run by native Hawaiians and lineal descendants. Malama O Puna and Hawaii Environmental Restoration, who are cooperatively stewarding the Wa!'ele in Puna, are open to assisting in stewardship duties as needed. We would greatly appreciate the Council's support of this Resolution and assurance that this opportunity to purchase from a willing seller does not become a missed opportunity. The people of Puna have been patient not only on this matter, but we still have many unfinished recovery projects after seven (7) years of recovery from the 2018 Lower East Rift Zone eruption. Please support this Resolution! With much Aloha, Eileen O'Hara, Executive Director County ofHawai'i Department of Finance 3 Public Access, Open Space & Natural Resources PRESERVATION FUND Acquisition Status Report (as of511612024) Name Pohoiki, Puna Wai'ele, Puna Waipi'o Valley Lookout, Hamakua Kapanai'a Bay, N. Kohala Kapalama Heiau (north half), N. Kohala Halelua, N. Kohala Halawa (Hale O Kaili Heiau), N. Kohala Hapu'u, N. Kohala Kapalama Heiau (south half), N. Kohala Hawi Banyan Tree, N. Kohala Pa'o'o, N. Kohala Mahukona CE, N. Kohala Kaiholena, N. Kohala O'oma Beach, N. Kona Puapua'a (Kaukaiakaola Heiau), N. Kona Kipapa, N. Kona White Sands, N. Kona Keauhou Bay, N. Kona The Greenwell Ethnobotanical Gardens CE, (Pa'ikapahu Heiau), S. Kona Kahuku Coastal, Ka'u Kiolaka'a CE, Ka'u Kaunamano CE, Ka'u Waikapuna CE, Ka'u Kahua Olohu (Makahiki Lands), Ka'u Kawa, Ka'u Tax Map Key No. 3 1-3-008:097 1-4-003:003, 037 4-8-004:006 5-2-007:004 5-2-007:027 5-3-007:010 5-3-007:022 5-3-007:023 5-3-007:026 5-5-015:042 5-7-001:005 5-7-002:011, 027, 036, 037 5-7-003:001, 002, 003, 007, 008, 010, 018 5-8-001:011, 019-023, 025 7-3-009:004, 022 7-5-020:022, 024, 028, 034 7-7-008:020, 031 7-5-008:021,023 7-8-012:035, 106 8-2-013:002, 003, 014; 8-3-014:043; 8-2-015:059 9-2-001:075 9-4-001:008, 009, 016, 017, 023 9-5-001:001, 004, 005, 006;-012:001 9-5-007:016 9-5-012:005 9-5-016:006, 025; 9-5-017:005, 007 To date, the County has acquired 10,986.466 acres consisting of approx. 6,179.49 acres in Conservation Easements and 4,806.976 acres in fee simple, which will remain in open space protection in perpetuity. PETITION FROM HONOLULU LANDING HUI TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR KIMO ALAMEDA We askyou to urgently prioritize the acquisition of Honolulu Landing (TMKs 1-4-3:19 & 1-4-3:20) utilizing Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resource (PONC) funds. Together these two lots comprise 364 acres and include almost 3/4 of a mile of exceptionally beautiful ocean front. The historic importance of these lands was recognized by 1974when the site was found eligible for listing in the Hawaii Register of Historic Places. The property includes historic Hawaiian house platforms, heiaus, terracing, rock walls and raised trails. This generation has a chance to protect what remains while ensuring open space alongside densely populated subdivisions. The property is part of and will build upon other recently recognized and preserved remains of what was Waiakahi'ula Village, working with lineal descendants to ensure its protection. These parcels were identified as important to acquire in 2005 in Hawaii County's general plan. They were put forth as very important to acquire by the PONC commission in 2006. In 2007 the County Council authorized the Director of Finance to negotiate for their acquisition. In other words, acquisition is now nearly 20 years in process. The owner wants to sell. An appraisal indicates a total value of $3.9 million. PONC has $30 million available from the 2%of our tax dollars that go into PONC funding. Time is of the essenceM This is a good use of our funds. In addition to their historic importance: 1. The oceanfront lot is greatlyvalued by local residents as a place to fish from and to gather and enjoy the ocean and the beautiful surroundings. It should be in public ownership. Puna has very little public ocean front. This area is exceptional. 2. Acquisition would allow for organized parking to remedy the current situation where the roadway is often semi -blocked because there is not enough parking. Please also consider that Puna has gotten very little of the PONC funding over the years. Name and address Name and address Name and address d Name and address Name and address Please return Petition by August 10 to 15-2778 Papio, Pahoa or by email to gianmarshalliagmail.com.