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<br /> " STATE OF HAWAII
<br /> COUNTY OF I�AWAI`I ;is `�,'�,,- :#
<br /> ,
<br /> RESOLUTION NO. 677 7 20
<br /> A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO ENTER INTO
<br /> NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE ACQUISITION OF LAND AND CONSERVATION
<br /> EASEMENT FOR THE PROPERTY IDENTIFIED AS TAX MAP KEYS (3) 7-9-001; 013;
<br /> 014; AND 015 IN THE AHUPUA'A OF KAUMOO, DISTRICT OF SOUTH KONA
<br /> KEAUHOU 1 AND 2, PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE 42, HAWAII COUNTY
<br /> CODE 1983 (2016. EDITION, AS AMENDED).
<br /> WHEREAS, Jawmin LLC is the owner of property identified as tax map key: (3) 7-9-
<br /> 001; 013; 014; and 015. Keauhou 2nd, South Kona, which comprises approximately 2,780 acres,
<br /> which is located in the Keauhou 1 and Keauhou 2 ahupua.`a in the District of South Kona; and
<br /> WHEREAS, Chapter 2, Article 42, Hawai'i County Code 1983. (2016 Edition, as
<br /> amended) provides for a Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund;
<br /> and
<br /> WHEREAS, Section 2-215, Hawaii County Code 1983 (2016 Edition, as amended),
<br /> established the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission;
<br /> and
<br /> WHEREAS, Section 2-217, Hawaii County Code 1983 (2016 Edition, as amended),
<br /> provides, in pertinent part, that the Commission's first duty and responsibility is to develop and
<br /> submit to the Mayor an initial island-wide prioritized list of qualifying lands worthy of
<br /> preservation: and for the priorities to be listed on an island-wide rather than district basis; and
<br /> WIIEREAS, the 2019 Annual Report of the Commission listed the Haloa `Aina Royal
<br /> Sandalwood Forest and assigned it the second highest priority for acquisition of property listed in
<br /> the 2019. Annual Report; and
<br /> WHEREAS, the anticipated use of the Haloa `Aina Royal Sandalwood Forest is to
<br /> purchase the conservation easement, protect the parcel from being developed from non-forest
<br /> purposes, to restore the Native Hawaiian dryland forest after 150 years of ranching, and manage
<br /> a restored Hawaiian sandalwood forest as a sustainable economic opportunity; and.
<br /> WHEREAS, the property contains rock walls, lava tube shelters, historic ranching
<br /> shelters, and significant cultural and historical sites, the parcels has native dry forest, which is a
<br /> priority conservation target for the Department of Land and Natural Resource; and
<br /> WHEREAS, Hawaiian div forests ate the rarest eco .,-stem type in. Hawaii, with more
<br /> than 90% of the original area already lost to development, fire, grazing, agriculture and invasive
<br /> species, these parcels are precious for their rarity, and provides essential habitat for native dry
<br /> forest birds, the Hawaiian Hawk, Pueo. the Hawaiian Hoary Bat. and insects; and
<br /> WHEREAS, the project protects watersheds including replenishment of the aquifer used
<br /> by residents and for agriculture and reducing soil erosion in the waters of Kealakekua Bay; and
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