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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0257.020 2008-2010 Page 1 of 1 Murashige, Laura From: Kawika Burgess [Kawika.Burgess@tpl.org] C Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 4:11 PM:,- N To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us Cc: Kawika Burgess; Lea Hong i Subject: June 2, 2009 Council Meeting Re: 2% Fund A- rsr Attachments: TPL June 2, 2009 Hawaii County Council Mtg Testimony.pdf ` v Aloha, Please see attached testimony from the Trust for Public Land for the June 2, 2009 Hawai'i County Council Meeting. Thank you. Native Lands Program Coordinator Trust for Public Land 212 Merchant Street, Suite 320 Honolulu, HI 96813 T.(808)524-8562 M.(808)840-9069 F.(808) 524-8565 "Hanau ka 'aina, hanau ke ali'i, hanau ke kanaka. " Born was the land, born were the chiefs, born were the common people. Hawaiian proverb The Trust for Public Land - conservation news and success stories free to your email box. www.tpLorg/newsletters S 2_0 Comm. No. .Z7 Ref. To: I-C'QMX4 Ref. Date JUN 0 2 70(14 5/28/2009 May 27 09 03:36p p.l THI TRUST ' PuBoL1C May 27,2009 2UU9 198Y 27 PM 4 15 LAN D Chair J Yoshimoto and Council Members ' ; Hawaii County Council I^l;un' 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Re: 2% Fund, June 2, 2009 Council Meeting J12 M. :a., m y. Sw,, 31n Aloha Chair Yoshimoto and Members of the Hawaii County Council: i ffiL95^_.I-ssoU ; One of the council:members requested The Trust for Public Land's (TPL's) presence at the next council meeting on June 2, 2009. However, l will be on the mainland that day, and our other project staff person, Kawika Burgess, has other commitments on Oahu. TPL supports Hawaii County's efforts to protect lands for public access, open space, and natural resource preservation. Since we cannot attend the Council meeting, we are submitting this report which: (1) provides background about TPL's work in Hawai'i County, and (2) summarizes TPL's work/investigation of current Hawaii Island projects. TPL Background TPL has completed several projects on the island of Hawai'i beginning with our first project assisting the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in adding 268-acres to the park in 1979. In 2006, TPL assisted the County of Hawaii in its acquisition of 225-acres at Honu'apo, worked with the Office of HawaiianAffairs in acquiring the 25,856- acre Wao Kele O Puna rainforest, assisted Ka Lau Ona One O Puna in acquiring 890 acres in Kahauale'a, and helped the Pu'uhonua O H6naunau National Historic Park in adding 238-acres in Ki'ilae to the park. TPL serves as a partner with public agencies and communities nationwide to conserve land for public benefit. TPL can assist public agencies by gaining site control of properties until public funds are available, addressing complex title, funding, and zoning issues, negotiating with landowners, and raising matching public and private funds for property acquisition. Status of Hawaii County Projects TPL is currently involved in the following ongoing and potential projects on the island of Hawai'i: Lapakahi TPL is working with the State Parks Division to acquire and protect a 17-acre private in-holding located within the Lapakahi State Historical Park in North Kohala. The property contains many cultural sites and is adjacent to the rich coastal waters of the May 27 09 03:3Gp p,2 Lapakahi Marine Life Conservation District. TPL has received the approval of $1.25 million from the State Legacy Land fund for the acquisition of the property (the Governor has also approved the release of funds), and is seeking matching federal funds from the Coastal and Estuarine Conservation Program (CELCP) for the project. However, funding for the CELCP program is being delayed indefinitely beyond the October 31, 2009 deadline for expiration of TPL's option with the landowner (the delay is due to changes in amendments to the authorizing legislation and program priorities). The County of Hawaii could provide the needed matching funds ($1.25 million) for this project allowing it to close in 2009. This project is ready to go (an appraisal has been completed), and would not burden the County with ongoing maintenance expenses since it would be added to an existing State Park. Kama TPL has been working with County of Hawaii staff to assist them in the County's acquisition of 550-acres at Kawa in Ka`fr. TPL has helped the County to secure $1 million from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, as well as $1.5 million from the State Legacy Land Conservation Fund, for a total of $2.5 million of matching funds. The property includes documented nesting areas for the critically endangered Hawaiian Hawksbill turtle, a large 2-acre intertidal coastal pond and spring system (the second largest on the island), and numerous cultural sites, including Ke`ekn Heiau (luakini), one of the largest intact heiau in the region. The Kawa project was ranked as the number 1 priority on the 2008 Hawaii County Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission Report to the Mayor. The project had been previously stalled because of disagreements over price. However, the landowner, the Edmund C. Olson Trust Il,t recently indicated that it is willing to sell the property at $5 million subject to appraisal. Because of state and federal matching funding, only $2.5 million of County funds need to be set aside for this property. Pio`o TPL is assisting County of Hawaii staff in investigating the acquisition of 10-acres of oceanfront property on the North Kohala coast. The property contains over 1900 feet of shoreline and is adjacent to the Lapakahi Marine Life Conservation District. There are numerous cultural sites on the property, and it is a popular recreational area and community surf spot for the people of Kohala. Acquisition by the county will fulfill the recommendations of the North Kohala Community Development Plan and the property is currently listed as the number 2 priority on the 2008 Hawaii County Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission Report to the Mayor. TPL has applied for matching funds with the CELCP program for the 2009 - 2010 program cycle, and is currently in the process of obtaining an appraisal (the results of which will be colifidential unless the landowner agrees to release them) and ' in the interests of full disclosure, Edmund C. Olson is also a member of TPL's Hawaiian Advisory Council. May 27 09 03:3Gp p.3 negotiating with the landowner on the purchase price. If the Council were to allocate funding for this project, TPL believes that $1 million would be sufficient, and that additional federal or state matching money could be raised to supplement the County's funding. Puapua`a This 8-acre site contains the Kauakaiakaola heiau restored by Kamehameha 1. The coastal property located along Ali`i Drive will potentially provide much needed coastal access and recreational park space within the ever increasing urban and resort development of Kailua-Kona. Puapua`a is listed as the number 5 priority in the 2008 Hawaii County Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission Report to the Mayor. At the request of a councilmember and community members, TPL recently visited the property, and talked with the landowner's representative. The landowner is willing to sell the property, but the value/price of the property is not clear. TPL is currently in the process of researching and identifying potential matching funds for the Puapua`a property. If the Council were to allocate funding for this project, TPL believes $4-5 million would be sufficient, and that it could help the County raise additional matching monies. Paboa Steam Vents At the request of a councilmember and community members, TPL recently visited the Pahoa Steam Vents, located on four parcels totaling over 21 acres (agricultural zoning). The property is a unique property that the community has apparently used as a natural sauna since the 1959 lava flow. Natural caves and conical formations allow visitors to use the natural steam for recreational and medicinal purposes. Unlike many other steam vents, the steam at this location do not have sulphurous or unpleasant odor. The landowner is willing to sell the property, but there has been no agreement on price/value. If the Council were to allocate funding for this project, TPL believes that $250,000 would be sufficient, and that it could help the County raise additional matching monies if needed. Kahuku TPL is conferring with potential partner agencies and organizations interested in the acquisition and protection of this 3,127-acre coastal property in Ka`a. Potential partners include the Hawaii Island Land Trust, The Nature Conservancy, Ka`a Preservation, and the Hawksbill Turtle Recovery Project. Numerous historical and cultural sites are located on the property, including temporary fishing shelters, enclosures, shrines, and petroglyphs. The coastal area of the property is rich in natural resources, including a complex of anchialine pools, a sandy beach, and a vibrant marine ecosystem. The offshore resources of this property May 27 09 03:36p p.4 have been designated as a high priority area for conservation because of its intact coral reef habitat, coral reef fish species assemblage, and adjacent Hawksbill turtle- nesting habitat- Kaiholena At the request of Iiohala community organizations, TPL has just begun the process of researching several oceanfront properties totaling 151-acres referred to as Kaiholena along the coast of North Kohala. Kaiholena has also been identified for acquisition and protection in the North Kohala Community Development Plan. Mahalo for your elTorts to conserve the natural landscapes, cultural sites, and heritage of Hawaii County for its residents and visitors. Sincerely, Lea Hong Hawaiian Islands Program Director