HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 516 Draft 02 2024-2026COUNTY OF HAWAI`I STATE OF HAWAI`I
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RESOLUTION NO.-`�
(DRAFT 2)
A 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 Hawaii 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 Hawaii 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:
1. 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 Hawaii Pae`aina, symbolically representing beginnings,
birth, and new life;
2. Preservation of Kumukahi as leina, a transitional place of deep spiritual
significance to the Hawaiian people and lineal descendants;
3. Protection and stewardship of native ecosystems and coastal marine resources
with the Kula Ahupua`a that support traditional gathering and fishing practices;
4. 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 Kona , Hawai`i, this 5th day of May , 2026
INTRODUCED BY
4A
CO CIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAI`I
COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE
County of Hawai`i AYES NOES ABS EX
Hilo, Hawai`i GALIMBA X
HUSTACE 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 .5, 2026
KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER X
KIERKIEWICZ X
ATTEST: KIMBALL X
ONISHI X
VILLEGAS X
9 0 0 0
Reference: C-818.4/LAAC-39
CO NTY CLERI HAIRPERSON&PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO. S -
(DRAFT 2)
ILII I Il 1111 110
3 LRB 25-232 D4