HomeMy WebLinkAboutSugg 26-04 redacted Revised—12-08-2024
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a COUNTY OF HAWAI'I Reserved for office
Public Access. Open Space. and Natural Resource Preservation Commission
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SUGGESTION FORM
gyp'• Rec'd 1/30/26 12:45 m
For Lands and/or Property Entitlements for Acquisition P
The Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission (PO NC) is accepting suggestions
for sites or projects to improve upon public access, open space, and natural resources preservation, pursuant to
Chapter 2, Article 42, of the Hawai'i County Code. Please use this form to tell the Commission about a property
that you would like to see protected. The Commission welcomes re-submission of previously submitted properties.
Please use one form per suggestion and limit total application size to less than 10 MI (megabytes) or 20 pages max-
imum (including photos, maps, and figures. If adjacent or nearby areas are protected and/or public areas, include
regional maps as well). Additional public testimony may be submitted to exceed the 20 page maximum. The
Commission's ranking of the suggestion is based on the information provided in this suggestion form and how it meets
the PONC scoring criteria and not solely on the expression of public support or opposition.
Name of Site or Project: Hilea Property
Ahupua`a, Council District,and Location Within: Hilea Iki Ahupuaa, Ka'u Moku, Hawai'i Island
Tax Map Key(TMK) Number(s): TMK: (3) 9-5-018-001 Land Area(Acreage): 1916 acres
Property Owner Information:
Name(s): Edmund C. Olson Trust Email:
Address: Phone:
To your knowledge, is the property owner aware of this nomination? OYes ❑No ❑Unsure
Suggested Purchase Method: El Conservation Easement ®Fee Simple ❑Other
Nominators Contact Information:
Name(s): Mele Coleman & Marian Chau Email:
The Nature Conservancy, Hawaii & Palmyra
Address: 923 Nuuanu Ave, Honolulu, HI 9E817 Phone:
Reason for nomination of property(please check all boxes that apply)
2 Public outdoor recreation and education, including access to beaches and mountains
2 Preservation of historic or culturally important land areas and sites
2 Protection of natural resources, significant habitat or ecosystems, including buffer zones
�2 Preservation of forests, including beaches, coastal areas, natural beauty, and agricultural lands
2 Protection of watershed lands to preserve water quality and water supply
Hawai'i County is an Equal opportunity Provider and Employer
Sugg 26 04 Page 1 of 3
ADDITIONAL REQUIRED INFORMATION
Please provide the information requested below. The information shall be attached to this form and appropriately labeled
with the name of the identifying attachment.
➢ Attachment A: Provide a Tax Map Key Plat map and a property map with the property boundaries and/or proposed
access outlined or highlighted. Confirm the council district by contacting the County Clerk's Office at: (808)961-8277
or visit https://www.elections.hawaiicounty.gov/resources/maps.
➢ Attachment B: Provide a clear statement detailing how public acquisition would fulfill one or more of the above
resource values. Explain the intent, long-term vision, and/or strategy of this proposed acquisition or project.
➢ Attachment C: If available, provide community letters of support or endorsements for this proposed acquisition o r
project.
➢ Attachment D: Identify and provide contact information of community organizations, land trusts, or individuals will-
ing to be part of this property's long-term management/maintenance.
➢ Attachment E: Please answer the following ten points by providing summaries and/or abstracts (rather than full re-
ports). Include, if necessary, citations or links to reference the documentation related to the suggested site or project.
Do not send original documents or pictures as they will not be returned.
1) How would this proposed acquisition or project benefit the general public?
2) Describe any significant historic, cultural, or natural resources on the property. Please be as specific as possible
and include only a summary of documentation (i.e., archaeological reports,flora/fauna surveys, etc.).
3) Describe (and include maps if available) any significant relationship to larger historical, cultural, and/or natural
landscape (i.e., corridors, complexes, agricultural field systems, conservation strategies etc.)
4) Describe the level of urgency(i.e.,the property is currently on the open market or for sale and if so, for how
long, there are current development plans, the property has an active filed application for re-zoning/subdivi-
sion, is an area of high public use, etc.).
5) Describe any special opportunities for acquisition that presently exist(special funding available, etc.).
6) Have partnerships with other government agencies or private or nonprofit entities been identified to leverage
resources(funding,grants, managing partnerships)?L'Yes ❑ No ❑Unknown. If yes, please describe.
7) Is/Are the property(s) or property easement(s) available for acquisition? ❑Yes 2No El Unknown.
If yes, please describe.
8) Are there any covenants, encumbrances, restrictions (i.e., association or maintenance), or easements on the
property? ❑ Yes 2 No ❑ Unknown If yes, please describe.
9) Describe any known hazards on the property (i.e., flood zone, lava hazard zone, mudslides, pollution, etc.).
Hawai'i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
Sugg.26-04 Page 2 of 3
SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
The Suggestion form and attachments may be submitted via email to PONC@hawaiicounty.gov, or you may mail (USPS,
Fed Ex, UPS, etc.) it to:
County of Hawai'i
Property Management-PONC
25 Aupuni Street,Suite 1101
Hilo, Hawaii 96720—4252
All nominations must be received by 4:30 p.m. on January 31, 2026, as evidenced by the County of
Hawai'i time clock, PST. Submissions received after the deadline, will be forwarded to the Commission the
following year. We are not responsible for forms lost in the mail.
For further information,contact Property Management Division at (808)961-8069 or PONC@hawaiicounty.gov
Hawai'i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
Sugg.26-04 Page 3 of 3
TheNature Attachment A
Conservancy Hilea Parcel with Proposed Access via Kaalaiki Road
Hawai'i and Palmyra Hiiea Nui and Hilea Iki Ahupua`a, Ka'u Moku, Hawaii County, Hawaii
Hawai'i Volcanoes or
National Park Ka'u
Forest
Reserve -
$r:
Ka'u PreservIl
-Kaiholena unit
Ka'u
Forest
Reserve amehame
Preserve
Ka'u
Preserve
Ka'u
Preserve
a
State of Hawaii
a Pacific Ocean V y
r
$ Y t AREA ENLARGED
,, .- nlNaiahinu
m
n�. Naalehu
y 0 1 2 3 Miles
Hiiea Parcel (1,916 acres, TMK (3) 9-5-018-001)
The Nature Conservancy Lands
Federal Lands 0 Hawaii Tax Map Key Parcels (2025) QataSources:
Hawaii Statewide
GIS Program,TNC
State Lands — Roads
12I1712024
County of Hawaii Parks
Produced by Hawaii Field dfrice(Theresa Cabrera Menard)
Sugg.26-04
PONC - AttachmentB
Attachment B: Provide a clear statement detailing how public acquisition would fulfill one or
more of the above resource values. Explain the intent, long-term vision, and/or strategy of this
proposed acquisition or project.
• Public outdoor recreation and education, including access to beaches and mountains
• Preservation of historic or culturally important land areas and sites
• Protection of natural resources, significant habitat or ecosystems, including buffer zones
• Preservation of forests, including beaches, coastal areas, natural beauty, and
agricultural lands
• Protection of watershed lands to preserve water quality and water supply
The proposed acquisition of the Hilea Property (TMK: (3) 9-5-018-001) would fulfill multiple
resource values listed above. The intent, long-term vision, and strategy of the proposed
acquisition is to (1) permanently protect and preserve the native forest on the Hilea Property to
enhance habitat connectivity and resiliency for the benefit of all native flora and fauna that
depend on the native forest (2) protect the natural resources and provide habitat protection and
ecosystem management to promote the recovery of Endangered Species Act (ESA)-listed
species with recovery plans (3) protect the Hilea watershed by ensuring the property's high-
quality agricultural lands and native forest are properly managed and never developed to
preserve water quality and water supply (4) preserve the property's important cultural resources,
including a significant heiau on Pu`u Makanau, by ensuring appropriate management (5) provide
education, community engagement and outdoor recreation opportunities.
Natural Areas
This property has a rich variety of natural features, including Pu`u Pakua, which is almost
entirely covered in high-quality native forest, Pu`u Makanau, which has forested slopes and a
flat plateau in agricultural pasture use, the major natural drainage of Hilea stream, the lower
plateau below Makanau known as cane field "Eight Nui" and two miniature sheltered valleys on
the southern edge of Pakua and Makanau.
Habitat Protection
Approximately half of the property is forested, with half of the forested area consisting of high-
quality native forest and the other half in mixed native, canoe plants and other non-native
species. Pakua is a long hill that is situated at the back of Makanau. It has 340 acres of `Ohi`a
/Uluhe lowland wet forest, which is fenced off from surrounding pasture lands. The area is
composed of a nearly continuous blanket of uluhe with emergent and widely spaced `ohi`a trees.
The forest also provides habitat for native plants like `ohe mauka, mamaki, kopiko, `olapa,
hapu`u pulu, hapu`u Vi, hapu`u meu, maile, `uki`uki, `ie`ie, ho`awa, ha`iwale, nuku `i`iwi, kanawao
and olona. Native honeycreepers, the Hawaiian Hawk and the Hawaiian Hoary bat are also
known to frequent the area.
Sugg.26-04
Watershed
The historic range of vegetation above the 1,850-foot contour elevation line is classified as
being `Ohi`a Lowland Wet Forest. Lowland Mesic Forest and Shrubland vegetation historically
existed from the 1,400 to 1,850-foot elevations. Average rainfall currently ranges from less than
1,500 mm to more than 2,500 mm annually.
This property has both above-ground and below ground watershed functions. The high-quality
native forests and non-native forest areas provide groundwater recharge for the Hilea and
Punalu`u ahupua`a, as do the areas in pasture, albeit to a lesser extent. There are also at least
three springs on the property, which are used for agricultural water by the ranch tenants
currently.
The intermittent, but continuously flowing subsurface waterway, Hilea stream, located at the foot
of Pakua and Makanau is a major drainage corridor for the area. There are also small drainage
features on the plateau of Makanau and in the pasture areas below.
Cultural/Historic Resources
Although much of the non-forested acreage was previously planted in sugarcane and therefore
has been subject to tillage, Kohaikalani Heiau is located on the southern edge of the plateau on
the summit of Makanau. Kohaikalani Heiau is famous in stories of Ka`u ali`i as the site where the
chief Kohaikalani met an untimely end by the rebellious actions of the commoners who had
been conscripted into building the heiau. According to Heiau of the Island of Hawaii: A Historic
Survey of Native Hawaiian Temple Sites, by John F. G. Stokes, the heiau is described as a
sacrificial heiau with:
"[Wjalls from 4.5 to 5.5 feet high inside and averaging 6.5 high on the outside. All the interior
fittings are gone, having been lost to cane growing. The entrance is near the southern corner."
At the time of our visit (November 2010), only the northwest walls of the heiau remain intact.
The ili stones are scattered around the base of the walls, and have been mixed in with the soil
of the surrounding pasture. There is a copper USGS marker labeled "MAKANAO" attached to a
steel pipe embedded in the wall.
Education, community engagement and outdoor recreation opportunities
Some pig-hunting currently occurs on the property by area residents and ranch tenants and
their employees. With purchase this access will continue, but access will be formalized to
ensure risk management and protection of natural resources. A community hunting access
system similar to the one currently employed on the adjacent TNC preserve property will be
used to ensure continual access to surrounding public hunting lands.
Open space and scenic resources are considerable as Makanau is a well-known and highly
visible landmark in Ka`u, as are the adjacent hills of Pakua, Pu`u Iki and Kaiholena. The summit
of Makanau provides sweeping views of the district.
Sugg.26-04
TNC intends to add the proposed acquisition of the Hilea Property to the adjacent Kaiholena
management unit of TNC's Ka`u Preserve and manage the Hilea Property in a manner
consistent with its active management at Kaiholena. Adding the forest at Hilea to the Kaiholena
management unit will tie it into the existing 2,000-acre Kaiholena fence area and effectively
incorporate it into the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife's planned 12,000-acre Ka`u Forest
Reserve fenced management area at the highest band of mosquito-free native bird habitat. The
resulting 1-mile wide by 4-mile long corridor of fenced priority watershed management area
would provide an important elevational gradient in habitat that supports the movement of
honeycreepers and native bats as the seasonal bloom cycle moves up and down the slope of
Mauna Loa throughout the year.
TNC's forest conservation priorities at Ka`u Preserve are to: 1) protect Hawai`i's remaining
native forests and ensure they are managed as functioning watersheds and habitat for native
species that are resilient to climate change; 2) address the threats that invasive species pose to
their health, our economy and way of life; 3) develop, pilot, and/or standardize innovative tools
and technologies to make conservation work more efficient; and 4) ensure community access to
and benefit from the Ka`u Forest Reserve.
TNC will work to develop a management plan in consultation with stakeholders on the property
including ranch lessees, families with kuleana lands in the ahupua`a and watershed partners.
Planning will include development of access protocols in consultation with the steward of
Kohaikalani heiau, Mr. Earl Lewis, the Edith Kanaka`ole Foundation, community stakeholders,
and lineal descendants to ensure customary access to Pu`u Makanau continues and that the
site is managed appropriately. TNC will provide access for community members through hosted
volunteer stewardship days and environmental education visits.
The management plan will likely include a plan to construct an ungulate exclusion fence around
the property's native `ohia/uluhe forest, approximately 357 acres located on Pu`u Pakua and
partially on Pu`u Iki. Pigs that we cannot push out of the fence as it is being constructed would
be removed in coordination with community hunters. Due to the steep terrain of Pu`u Pakua and
Pu`u Iki, however, the forest is in good condition at this present time, with likely no cattle, but
some pigs.
Future management actions would include management of invasive weeds, resource
monitoring, habitat restoration, out-planting to establish recovery populations, and predator
control. TNC will explore public and private funding opportunities to ensure the land is properly
managed in perpetuity and over time.
Sugg.26-04
January 28, 2026
County of Hawai'i
Property Management—PONC
25 Aupuni Street, Suite 1101
Hilo, Hawai'i 96720-4252
Re: Strong support for protection of the Hilea Property, comprised of approximately 1,916 acres,
TMK:(3)9-5-018-001, Ka'u,Hawaii Island,Hawai'i (H7ea PONC Application)
Aloha PONC Commissioners:
MJ Ranch is pleased to provide strong support for the HTlea Public Access, Open Space, and
Natural Resource Preservation Commission application submitted by The Nature Conservancy Hawai'i
and Palmyra ("TNC").
The property is located in the HTlea Nui Ahupua'a and HTlea Iki Ahupua'a of the Ka'u moku on
Hawai'i Island,(the "HTlea Property").The Hilea Property consists of 1,916 acres of ecologically and
culturally important land that is cherished by the local community and threatened by development. The
Pakua pu'u on the property contains approximately 340 acres of high-quality native '6hia and uluhe fern
forest that is habitat for several listed species(e.g., native honeycreepers and Hawaiian Hoary bat) and
home to numerous native plants.The forest is well-preserved due to the steep terrain of Pakua.Cattle
are fenced out of the forested areas and graze the surrounding high-quality agricultural lands.The HTlea
Property is adjacent to other protected lands—the TNC Ka'u Preserve and the State of Hawai'i Ka'u
Forest Reserve. Kohaikalani Heiau,which is located on the southern edge of the plateau on the summit
of Makanau, has great significance in Hawaiian history and its preservation is extremely important to the
people of Ka'u.
TNC nominated these parcels for PONC to ensure that they are protected into the future, and so
that the conservation lands remain in conservation,and agricultural lands remain in agriculture.The call
for preservation of these specific lands is documented in the Ka'u community development plan's action
plan under section 4.2"Expand the local system of preserves." MJ Ranch believes TNC is a suitable land
trust to own and steward the Hilea Property because it has an excellent reputation as a land steward
within the Ka'u community, has the skills and resources necessary to manage the HTlea Property as an
addition to its Ka'u Preserve, and would develop a management plan for the property.
In conclusion, MJ Ranch strongly supports the HTlea Legacy Land and PONC application
submitted by TNC for protection of the HTlea Property in perpetuity.
Sincerely,
Walter D. Andrade,
Own r of MJ Ranch
1
From: Debi Javar
To: oonctestimonvCalhawaiicountv.aov
Cc: Shalan Crvsdale; Nohealani Ka"awa
Subject: STRONG SUPPORT OF PROTECTION OF THE HILEA PROPERTY,TMK(3)9-5-018-001 Ka"u, Hawai"i Island
(PONC)
Date: Wednesday,January 28,2026 5:53:22 PM
Aloha PONC Commissioners:
My name is Debra M Javar and I am pleased to provide strong support for the Public Access,
Open Space and Natural Resource Preservation Commission application submitted by the
Nature Conservancy Hawai'i and Palmyra("TNC").
The property is located in the Hilea Nui ahupua'a and the Hilea Iki ahupua'a of the Ka'u moku
on Hawai'i Island. The "Hilea property" consists of 1,916 acres ecologically and culturally
important land that is cherished by the local community and is threatened by development.
The Hilea property is adjacent to other protected lands -the TNC Ka'u Preserve and the State
of Hawai'i Forest Reserve. The Kohaikalani Heiau on Makanau mountain has great
significance in Hawaiian history and its Preservation is extremely important to the people of
Ka'u.
TNC nominated these parcels for PONC to ensure that they are protected into the future, and
so that conservation lands remain in conservation, and agriculture lands remain in
agriculture. The call for Preservation of these specific lands is documented in the Ka'u
Community Development Plan's action plan under section 4.2 "Expand the local system of
preserves." I, Debra M Javar, believe TNC is a suitable land trust to own and steward the
Hilea property because it has an excellent reputation as a land steward within the Ka'u
community. TNC also has the skills and resources to manage the Hilea property as an
addition to its Ka'u Preserve and would develop a management plan for the property.
In conclusion, I, Debra M Javar, STRONGLY SUPPORT the Hilea Legacy Land and PONC
application submitted by TNC for protection of the Hilea property in perpetuity.
Sincerely,
Debra M Javar
Sugg.26-04
Michelle M. Galimba
HAWAFI COUNTY
COUNCIL
Council District 6
Portion N.S.KonatKa W Molcano
1
January 28, 2026
Re: Strong support for protection of the Hilea Property,comprised of approximately 1,916
acres,TMK: (3) 9-5-018-001,Ka`n,Hawaii Island,Hawaii(H1ea PONC Application)
Aloha PONC Commissioners:
It is my pleasure to provide strong support for the Mlea Public Access, Open Space, and Natural
Resource Presevation Commission application submitted by The Nature Conservancy Hawaii and
Palmyra("TNC").
The property is cherished by the local community and threatened by development_ It contains
approximately 340 acres of high-quality native `6hia and uluhe fern forest that is habitat for several
listed species(e.g.,native honeycreepers and Hawaiian Hoary bat) and home to numerous native
plants. If furthermore contains important cultural sites and agricultural lands. Its preservation is
extremely important to the people of Ka`u.
TNC nominated these parcels for PONC to ensure that they are protected into the future, and so that
the conservation lands remain in conservation, and agricultural lands remain in agriculture. The call
for preservation of these specific lands is documented in the Ka`u community development plan's
action plan under section 4.2"Expand the local system of preserves."
TNC is a suitable land trust to own and steward the Idea Property because it has an excellent
reputation as a land steward within the Ka`u community,has the skills and resources necessary to
manage the Hilea Property as an addition to its Ka`u Preserve, and would develop a management plan
for the property.
Mahalo for your service,
Hamai`i County Is an Equal Opporlrrnit►,Prot•iderAnd Emploper
5ugg.26-04
1. PONC Attachment D- Identify and provide contact information of community organizations,
land trusts,or individuals willing to be part of this property's long-term
management/maintenance.
The Nature Conservancywill have ultimate responsibility for managingthe Property, and
willworkwith ranch licensees, lineal descendants and conservation partners to update its
management plan for the Ka'u Preserve to include management of the Property.TNC
intends to maintain the three cattle-ranching licenses that currently exist on the Property as
the grazing of the pastures helps reduce incursion of invasive plants and risk of wildfire.
Community hunters, local volunteers,and schools have helped TNC steward Ka'u preserve
since its inception,and that continued support is vital to achievingTNC's mission to protect
the lands and waters on which all life depends.
HAWAI'I PROGRAM OFFICE
The Nature Conservancy
923 Nu'uanu Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96817
Phone:808-537-4508
Email: hawaii(cbtnc.org
Sugg.26-04
PONC - AttachmentE
Attachment E: Please answer the following ten points by providing summaries and/or abstracts
(rather than full reports). Include, if necessary, citations or links to reference the documentation
related to the suggested site or project.
1) How would this proposed acquisition or project benefit the general public?
This proposed acquisition of the Hilea Property would benefit the public in multiple ways.
Adjacent to conservation lands held by The Nature Conservancy and in close proximity to the
Ka`u Forest Reserve, this property is important for its conservation, watershed, and habitat
protection value. As the site of the storied heiau Kohaikalani, the property has well-established
importance as a cultural resource. Ongoing ranching operations by local families demonstrate
the agricultural value of the parcel. The distinctive silhouette of Makanau, Pakua, and the other
Ninole hills adjacent make for unmistakable open space and scenic value. This parcel also has
significant value as a site for forest and native landscape restoration. Situated mauka of
Punalu`u and Kawa bays, this property has high value in preserving the viewscape from these
coastal areas, and for supplying the freshwater springs and estuaries of both Punalu`u and
Kawa. Within the Ka`u community development plan, in the community-based collaborative
action guide, Makanau was identified as a prominent element of mauka viewscape that is
relatively unprotected from development within "Focused Initiative 4.2: Expand the Local
System of Preserves."
Approximately 357 of the 1,916 acres of the property is native `ohi`a/uluhe forest, located at Pu`u
Pakua and Pu`u `Iki, hills with steep terrain (1,400 to 2,400 feet) that are positioned at the lower
edge of one of the largest areas of intact forest land in the State, totaling 68,500 acres. There
are at least 119 indigenous vascular plants, 121 known native invertebrates, 15 native and
endemic forest birds and one endemic mammal that may directly benefit from this proposed
land acquisition. Of these, 18 are species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and
are found on the Hilea property or within the vicinity of the property.
The Hilea watershed is a critical watershed area.Approximately 8,850 Ka`u residents rely on the
Hilea watershed for fresh water and erosion control. Watershed conservation activities at TNC's
Ka`u Preserve, adjacent and upslope of the Hilea Property, protect an estimated 180 million
gallons of freshwater yield from the time of fence establishment in 2008 to 2065 (UHERO,
2015).
The property has three important water sources and maintains water rights to an important
water source on TNC's upslope property. Diversion of these vital waters would adversely impact
rare, native, and endemic species in the project area as well as species found at the estuary
downstream at the County-protected Kawa Bay. The property is hydrologically connected to the
County-protected estuary downslope at Kawa Bay.
Sugg.26-04
2) Describe any significant historic, cultural, or natural resources on the property. Please
be as specific as possible and include only a summary of documentation (i.e.,
archaeological reports, flora/fauna surveys, etc.).
Significant Cultural/Historic Resources
Kohaikalani Heiau
Kohaikalani Heiau is a culturally and historically important site that is located on the southern
edge of Pu`u Makanau's plateau [State Inventory of Historic Places (SIHP) Site designation for
Kohaikalani Heiau Site 50-10-68-03538. Stokes, J. F. G. (1991), Heiau of the Island of Hawaii:
A Historic Survey of Native Hawaiian Temple Sites. Edited by T. S. Dye. Bishop Museum Bulletin
in Anthropology 2. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu]. The heiau is the subject of a well-known
local story about the Ka`u high chief Kohaikalani, who was killed at the heiau through a
conspiracy of the common people in which the priest joined.
Testimony provided by cultural specialist and ahupua`a tenant of Punalu`u, Keolanui Hanoa, in
TNC's 2006 Ka`u Preserve Environmental and Cultural Impact Assessment described the
function of the heiau and its importance: "The heiau on Makanau, Koaikalani, is called a
ho`omana heiau. That's where you would go to pray for healing of your people, for
empowerment. There are different kinds of heiaus, for different kinds of things. And that heiau
was used for ho`omana, for empowerment."
Since purchasing the Hilea Property in 2004, the landowner has allowed the community to visit
and care for the heiau. The heiau is fenced to keep out cattle and the grounds are maintained
through an agreement between the landowner and a community member.
Traditional Hawaiian banana cultivars including the Iholena Kopua, Maoli Manai Ula, and Maoli-
Maoli found at Hilea represent "likely the last `wild' population left on Hawaii" (Angela Kay
Kepler, pers. Comm.April 2023) and are found on the slopes of Pu`u Makanau, Pu`u Pakua, and
Pu`u Iki where protection through fence construction and invasive weed control would enhance
the survival of these rare varieties. Recovery and expansion of the namesake banana patch at
the base of Pu`u Kaiholena is noted by National Tropical Botanical Gardens researchers as an
additional benefit of fence construction and ungulate removal.
Natural Resources
Pu`u Pakua is known for its `Ohi`a Lowland Wet Forest. Pakua is a long hill that is situated at the
back of Makanau. It has approximately 340 acres of `Ohi`a /Uluhe (Metrosideros/Dicranopteris)
Fern Forest and the portion of adjacent Pu`u Iki that lies on the Hilea Property has
approximately 17 acres of`Ohi`a/Uluhe (Metrosideros/Dicranopteris) Fern Forest. The area is
composed of a nearly continuous blanket of uluhe (Dicranopteris linearis) with emergent and
widely spaced `ohi`a trees. The forest also provides habitat for native plants like `ohe mauka
Sugg.26-04
(Tetraplasandra hawaiensis), mamaki (Pipturus albidus), kopiko (Psychotria mariniana), `olapa
(Cheirodendron trigynum), hapu`u pulu (Cibotium glaucum), hapu`u Vi (Cibotium menziesii),
hapu`u meu (Cibotium chamissoi), maile (Alyxia oliviformis), `uki`uki (Dianella sandwicensis),
`ie`ie (Freycinetia arborea), ho`awa (pittosporum hosmen), ha`iwale (Cyrtandra), nuku `i`iwi
(Strongylodon), kanawao (Broussaisia), and olona (Touchardia). Highly invasive cat's claw
(Caesalpinia decapetala) is growing along the edge of the forest, and without active
management will continue to smother native forest plants.
Habitat Protection
There are at least 119 indigenous vascular plants, 121 known native invertebrates, 15 native
and endemic forest birds and one endemic mammal that may directly benefit from this proposed
land acquisition. Of these, 18 are species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and
are found on the Hilea property or within the vicinity of the property.
Animals
This proposed acquisition will directly benefit the following seven animal species listed under the
federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) as endangered: the endangered Hawaii `Akepa; the
`Alawi or Hawaii Creeper; the Akiapola`au; the `Alala or Hawaiian crow; the `Ope`ape`a or
Hawaiian hoary bat; the Blackburn's Sphinx moth; and the endangered Pinao `ula or Orange-
black Hawaiian damselfly. The proposed acquisition will also directly benefit two animal species
listed as threatened under the ESA: the Nene or Hawaiian goose, and the `I`iwi or scarlet
honeycreeper.
Endangered Hawaiian hoary bats, `Ope`ape`a, have been observed in the area, inhabiting the
wet montane forests of Ka`u and likely roost, forage, and breed on the property. The Nature
Conservancy's Kaiholena unit of its Ka`u Preserve and this adjacent Hilea property is a
potentially very important site of residency as well as potential corridor for bats to move from
lowland coastal areas to upper montane refugia, the latter being important especially during the
cooler winter months.
Plants
This proposed acquisition will directly benefit the following nine plant species listed as
endangered under the ESA: Clermontia lindseyana, Cyanea shipmanii, Cyanea stictophylla;
Melicope zahlbruckneri, Phyllostegia velutina, Nothocestrum breviflorum, Pritchardia lanigera,
Pittosporum hawaiiense, and Pittosporum hosmeri. Nothocestrum breviflorum, Pritchardia
lanigera, Pittosporum hawaiiense, and Pittosporum hosmeri have been reported within the
Kaiholena unit of TNC's Ka`u Preserve. The other five species are among the most highly
endangered plants found in the Ka`u Forest Reserve. The Hilea Property includes suitable
habitat, and it is likely these rare plants occurred on the Hilea Property in the past and could
occur there presently.
Agricultural Production:
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Approximately half of the property is being used for cattle pasture at present and was previously
in sugarcane production. There is approximately 50 acres planted in eucalyptus.
The property has historically been used for the cultivation of crops and cattle grazing. Accounts
from the 1820s indicate that the area was being used for cultivating mountain taro (the mamaki
variety for which Hilea was famous), as well as bananas, arrowroot, turmeric, yams, paper
mulberry, olona, and bamboo. Later the area was used for the cultivation of sugar cane. It is
now being used for commercial cattle ranching.
Open Space and Scenic Resources:
The Hilea Property provides dramatic views of the Ka`u coastline and uplands. Pu`u Makanau is
a culturally important and historical land feature. The Hilea Property is a central part of the Ka`u
District viewshed and is significantly viewable from the district's three county beach parks,
Punalu`u, Kawa Bay, and Honu`apo, and from along Hawaii Belt Road and Hawaii Volcanoes
National Park, an International Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site.
The people of Ka`u and beyond deeply cherish the open space and scenic values of the Hilea
Property.
3) Describe (and include maps if available) any significant relationship to larger
historical, cultural, and/or natural landscape (i.e., corridors, complexes, agricultural field
systems, conservation strategies etc.)
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NStUT� Hilea(Edmund C.Olson Trust No. 2 Foundation, Inc.)
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The Hilea property has a high degree of connectivity and hydrological connection to Kawa Bay.
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TheNature Hilea(Edmund C.Olson Trust No.2 Foundation,Inc.)
Conservancy Hilea Nui and Hilea Iki Ahupua'a,Ka'u Moku,Hawai'i County,Hawai'i
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The Hilea property is adjacent to conservation lands held by The Nature Conservancy and in
close proximity to the Ka`u Forest Reserve and is an important cultural site with scenic and open
space value. The proximity to nearby `Imakakaloa heiau and the three large heiau downslope at
Punalu`u, Ninole and Kawa form a compact arrangement of significant ritual centers that speaks
to the importance of this area as a historical seat of power in the district.
4) Describe the level of urgency (i.e., the property is currently on the open market or for
sale and if so, for how long, there are current development plans, the property has an
active filed application for re-zoning/subdivision, is an area of high public use, etc.).
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The parcel is under immediate threat of being sold for development by the current landowner,
Edmund Olson Trust II(Trust) and is being marketed by the Trust at the current time, as part of
its consolidation plans and transition into a perpetual foundation. However, due to the values
described above, it would be best if this parcel would be kept in its current use in forest and
agriculture through acquisition by a land conservation non-profit organization. This property is
not an appropriate area for development for residential purposes due to its remote location, its
importance in preserving the watershed and hydrological cycle for the Ka`u coast, the
importance of Kohaikalani heiau, and its high scenic value. Development would impact the
health of the native forest on the parcel as well as the neighboring parcels in conservation.
Consultation with stakeholders is ongoing, with active outreach to ranching tenants Kuahiwi
Ranch, MJ Ranch, and Johansen Ranch, the Ka'u CDP Action Committee, and to local
conservation non-profits. Consultation with local Native Hawaiian and lineal descendants will
also occur as the acquisition process progresses.
If TNC does not acquire the Hilea Property, the property will likely be acquired by either a
ranching business for cattle ranching or a developer for the development of house lots or
subdivisions. There are at least two other interested buyers, one is a ranching business and one
is a developer. The developer contracted for an appraisal. Under either scenario of non-TNC
acquisition, the native forest will not likely be managed for conservation and thus will remain
threatened by incursion of invasive ungulates, weeds, and diseases. Subdivision for agricultural
house lots brings artificial lights now absent on the property, unintentional and intentional
introduction of invasive pest species including horticultural weeds, insects and pathogens. An
additional risk of subdivision is an increased rate of water withdrawal from the source of surface
and subsurface flow at Old Plantation Springs, with associated threats to native insect and
estuarine fauna described in greater detail below.
Purchase by a rancher carries the risk of on-island herd rotation and accompanying introduction
of weed species not currently present in the area as well as increased likelihood of water
withdrawal from the Old Plantation Springs Tunnel water source located on TNC property
upslope that feeds Hilea gulch and the estuarine systems at Kawa Bay and Ninole Springs on
the shoreline. If the property is not acquired by TNC, it is likely there will be no contribution to
the recovery of the ESA-listed species found on and within the vicinity of the property.
Permanent habitat loss and degradation is also likely and therefore ESA-species will be
adversely affected.
The entire Hilea Property will also be threatened by conversion/development because it is
zoned Agriculture. The property has 28 lots of record that allow for development without
subdivision approval from the County. There is an existing network of 7.38-miles of"main artery
roads" and 11.36-miles of secondary gravel roads. The property is also a potential candidate
site for solar, hydro-electric and wind energy production, with examples of each of these now
operational in Ka`u.
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Former sugar lands in Ka`u and elsewhere on Hawaii Island have been subdivided and sold as
agricultural lots with the resulting introductions of alien pest species being well-documented and
detrimental to the adjacent State and privately-owned and managed native forest biota (Hawai`i
Invasive Species Council, https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/hisc/info/ last visited on 3 January, 2025) .
Wind, solar, and hydroelectric developments in the area have resulted in the death of native
birds and bats (American Bird Conservancy, https://abcbirds.org/to-protect-birds-and-bats-from-
wind-turbines-adopt-hawaiis-approach/ last visited on 3 January, 2025), and water withdrawal
threatens surface and sub-surface stream flow in the seasonally and lowlands of Ka`u.
The Hilea Property has three water sources and maintains water rights to a water source on
TNC's upslope property. If TNC does not acquire the property, these vital waters may be
diverted in a manner that would adversely impact ESA-listed species in the area and
downstream at Kawa Bay. Diversion of water for non-agriculture use also threatens local
ranching operations that have traditionally drawn from these water sources and made relatively
small improvements in water withdrawal infrastructure in consultation with TNC.
With respect to community engagement thus far, TNC has spoken to individual members of the
community about TNC's interest in acquiring the Hilea Property, and all were supportive of the
idea of TNC acquiring the property. For example, the three ranches with leases at Hilea offered
strong support. The caretaker of the heiau on the property offered support. TNC has also
spoken with and received support from Board members of the local nonprofit Ka `Ohana O
Honu`apo, Hilo branch DOFAW staff, UH research faculty, kupuna with ties to the lands, and
several nonprofit organizations connected to the land.
5) Describe any special opportunities for acquisition that presently exist (special funding
available, etc.).
The landowner of the Hilea parcel has signed a willing seller letter and has confirmed that the
trust is interested in selling the Hilea property to The Nature Conservancy for the Fair Market
value.
6) Have partnerships with other government agencies or private or nonprofit entities
been identified to leverage resources (funding, grants, managing partnerships)? Q Yes ❑
No ❑ Unknown. If yes, please describe.
TNC has been awarded a $2,000,000 Land Acquisition Grant from the Legacy Land
Conservation Program, enabling us to leverage these funds towards the purchase of Hilea.
We also applied for a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Recovery Land Acquisition (RLA) Grant, for
which we partnered with DLNR-DOFAW, and received support from both agencies; however, the
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federal government did not transfer funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to the
RLA program in fiscal year 2025, so we are uncertain of the status of this grant at this time.
7) Is/Are the property(s) or property easement(s) available for acquisition? ❑Yes Q No
❑Unknown. If yes, please describe.
No, a conservation easement is not for sale, the purchase will be to buy the Hilea property in
fee simple ownership.
An access easement to Hilea across adjacent properties from a public road will come with the
property.
8)Are there any covenants, encumbrances, restrictions (i.e., association or
maintenance), or easements on the property?Q Yes ❑ No ❑ Unknown If yes, please
describe.
There will be two easements for water conveyance through portions of the property and an
access easement across the property. TNC and an adjacent private landowner own access
easements to access the adjacent property.
A portion of the property is presently leased for grazing.
9) Describe any known hazards on the property (i.e., flood zone, lava hazard zone,
mudslides, pollution, etc.).
The steep slopes of Makanau and Pakua pose some danger of rock falls and there is some
flooding that can occur due to heavy rainfall. However, because the property is largely in its
natural state these hazards are minimal. The property is in lava zone 3.
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