HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0476.001 2014-2016P/Fc
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THE TRuSTfor POBLIc LAND
LAND FOR P EOP LE
THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND'S TESTIMONY
IN SUPPORT OF RESOLUTION 287-15
RELATING TO KAHUA `OLOHU MAKAHIKI GROUNDS
KAUNAMANO AHUPUA`A, KA`U DISTRICT, TMK: (3) 9-5-012:005_
Hawaii County Council Finance Committee -..
Hilo Council Chambers, Hawaii County Building
25 Aupuni Street, First Floor, Rm. 1401„ c 1
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
October 6, 2015
Aloha Chair Eoff, Vice Chair Poindexter, and Members of the Council Finance Committee,
The Trust for Public Land strongly supports Resolution 287-15 authorizing the Director of
Finance to enter into negotiations for acquisition of the Kahua `Olohu makahiki grounds in Ka`u
utilizing the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund.
The Trust for Public Land is a national, 501(e)3 non-profit land conservation organization that has
been assisting local communities and government agencies throughout Hawaii to protect
Hawai`i's most special natural places since 1979. In Ka`u, we partnered with the County of
Hawaii and many community groups to protect Honu`apo Fishpond and Kawa Bay. We are
currently working to purchase and protect the majority of the makai portion of the Kaunamano
ahupua`a which surrounds Kahua `Olohu.
Kaunamano means "multitudes are placed here," reflecting the thriving Hawaiian fishing
community that once lived and trained in lua (traditional Hawaiian martial art) on those grounds.
Evidence of that community still stands on the surrounding makai lands including Paula Fishing
Village, heiau, burial sites, petroglyphs, and a network of underground lava tubes. Kahua `Olohu
is an integral part of this irreplaceable cultural landscape.
Protecting Kahua `Olohu would safeguard the cultural resources and stories of a famous
makahiki grounds, and provide additional incentive to federal, state and private potential funders
to contribute toward the purchase and conservation of the 1,363 surrounding acres at Kaunamano
makai. Please help to protect Kahua `Olohu as a living legacy of the storied district of Ka`u, and
the stately, resilient people that once lived at Kaunamano and still make Ka`u their home.
Mahalo for your consideration, 41&,-/
Comm. Noa
LU Ref. TO�
Laura H. E. Kaakua
Ref. Vete 0 T 0
Native Lands Project Manager
The Trust for Public Land • 1003 Bishop Street, Ste. 740, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Phone: (808)524-8562 • Email: laura.kaakua@tpl.org