HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 516 Draft 02 2024-2026A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE ACQUISITION OF LANDS OR CONSERVATION EASEMENTS FOR ALL OR A PORTION OF THE PROPERTIES IDENTIFIED AS
TAX MAP KEY NOS. (3) 1-4-002:002, 017, 042, 047, 048, 052, 065, 072, 080, 081, 082, 085, 092, AND 100, ALSO KNOWN AS KUMUKAHI, SITUATED IN THE AHUPUA‘A OF KULA, DISTRICT OF PUNA, 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, Kumukahi, as shown in “Exhibit A”, attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, consists of approximately 1,967.96 acres, and is ranked as the third highest priority
for acquisition in the Commission’s 2025 Annual Report to the Mayor, dated December 31, 2025; 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, Kumukahi lies within the Ahupua‘a of Kula, an area that supports a range of native species and interconnected ecosystems, and the integrity of this natural environment is increasingly
threatened by unmanaged access, inappropriate use, and the introduction and proliferation of non-native invasive species along its coastlines; and
WHEREAS, the acquisition of title and conservation easements for Kumukahi properties would be significantly beneficial to the County and our island community in the following reasons:
Preservation of a renowned wahi pana and wahi kupuna containing burial sites, heiau, and other historical features, including its significance as the hikina (eastern point) of Ko Hawai‘i
Pae‘aina, symbolically representing beginnings, birth, and new life;
Preservation of Kumukahi as leina, a transitional place of deep spiritual significance to the Hawaiian people and lineal descendants;
Protection and stewardship of native ecosystems and coastal marine resources with the Kula Ahupua‘a that support traditional gathering and fishing practices;
Providing managed public access for education, shoreline recreation, navigation, ceremonial practice, and traditional cultural practices, in partnership with lineal descendants and community
organizations; and
WHEREAS, the urgency of acquisition is heightened by the anticipated reopening of the Highway 132 section forming “Four Corners,” which leads to Kumukahi, by December 2026, which will
significantly increase public access to Kumukahi, necessitating established stewardship and management infrastructure; 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 conservation easements, or both, for all or a portion of the properties identified as Tax Map Key Nos. (3) 1-4-002:002, 017, 042, 047, 048, 052, 065, 072,
080, 081, 082, 085, 092, and 100, also known as Kumukahi, situated in the Ahupua‘a of Kula, District of Puna, utilizing the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation
Fund.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director of Finance is authorized to initiate any funding mechanisms required for the acquisition of this land, 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 C. Kimo Alameda, Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i; Diane Nakagawa, Director of Finance;
and members of the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission.
Dated at _____________, Hawai‘i, this ______ day of ___________________, 20___.
INTRODUCED BY:
_______________________________________
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I