HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-05-08 NKCDP Letter Mayor Kim FinalHarry Kim
Mayor
West Hawaii Office
74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
Phone (808) 323-4770
Fax (808) 327-3563
May 8, 2017
County of Hawaii
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
NORTH KOHALA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN
ACTION COMMITTEE
Mayor Harry Kim
County of Hawaii
25 Aupuni Street, St. 2603
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Michael Yee
Director
Daryn Arai
Deputy Director
Bast Hawaii Office
101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Phone (808) 961-8288
Fax (808) 961-8742
SUBJECT: Support for the Purchase of Property in North Kohala for Open Space
Dear Mayor Kim,
The County of Hawaii is known throughout the world as the home of King Kamehameha the
Great. We ask that you help the community of North Kohala preserve the actual homelands of
Kamehameha by authorizing the Director of Finance to enter into negotiations for the acquisition
of lands at Hapu`u, Kapanai`a and Halelua. There are many other reasons to preserve this three-
mile stretch of northern coastline, but preserving the kulaiwi o Kamehameha is very compelling.
Since the 1970's, the people of Kohala have worked to guarantee continuance of their
generations -long access to these lands. The North Kohala Community Development Plan
(County Ordinance 08-151) identifies the reasons and need for preserving these lands in three
different sections (see below). Through a community -wide effort over many years, all the
necessary documents and land owners are in place to see this happen.
Here are some compelling reasons for initiating negotiations to purchase these lands for open
space:
County Council resolutions to purchase — The County Council unanimously passed
Resolutions 327-15 and 326-15 in December 2015 directing the County to enter into negotiations
with the owners of land within the Hapu`u to Kapanai`a Cultural Corridor and Halelua for public
purchase of the lands.
Highest priority on PONC list — Hapu`u to Kapanai`a Cultural Corridor has been on the
County's PONC list since 2010, fourth place or higher, in 2015 it was listed as Priority One.
Halelua has been on the PONC list since 2012, and was Priority One in 2014.
Cited as highest priority for preservation by the North Kohala Community Development
Plan — The NKCDP (County Ordinance 08-151) calls for a Cultural and Historic Preservation
Community with the highest priority being the preservation of Kohala's legacy as the home of
Kamehameha I (Section 4. 1, Strategies 1.6 and 1.7). The Public Access recommendations name
Kapanai`a to Kauhola Point as the highest priority in establishing community access (Section 4.2,
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Mayor Harry Kim
May 8, 2017
Page 2
Strategy 2. 1, Priority 1 — Kapanai`a to `Ainakea). The Growth Management chapter (Section 4. 1,
Strategy 1.2) calls on the County "to acquire coastal lands that should be preserved in open
space" using the 2% Land Fund.
• These lands are kulaiwi o Kamehameha — Kamehameha and his family's home land —
Kamehameha built Hale o Ka`ili Heiau on the Hapu`u land for his war god Kuka`ilimoku and
used the giant and ancient Kapalama Heiau on the Kapanai`a land as well as Ohau Heiau at
Halelua in preparing his warriors for uniting the Hawaiian Islands. He, his ancestors and
descendants planted and maintained this land.
• Lands at both ends of this 4 -mile section of Kohala's Northern Coast have already been
preserved at no cost to the County — Twenty eight acres of land at Kauhola Point were
purchased with State Legacy Land funds and fundraising within the Kohala community with the
help of The Trust for Public Lands in 2012. Forty eight acres of land at Niuli`i (listed 95 on the
2015 PONC list) were donated to The Kohala Center for cultural conservation in 2016.
• Owners of the lands have worked with the community for over 8 years to see them
preserved — Representatives of the five owners of the Hapu`u, Kapanai`a, and Halelua parcels
have repeatedly shared with community groups their desire to preserve these lands, despite strong
economic pressures to sell the properties for development. They have completed Archaeological
surveys and Preservation Plans, which have received the support of the community. Without
preservation these lands will be sold for gated, high-end residences.
• Six Kohala community groups are willing to work with the County in procuring matching
funds through the State Legacy Land Preservation Program — Matching funds can be applied
for through the Legacy Land fund this year. The groups with resources and reputations to support
the County in applying for these funds are Malama Wahi Pana o Kohala, Kamakani o Kohala
`Ohana — Kako`o, Kohala Lihikai, Malama Kohala Kahakai, Maika`i Kamakani o Kohala, and
the Kohala Cultural and Historic Preservation Group. The Hawaiian Islands Land Trust has also
offered assistance in locating supplemental funding.
We ask you to please authorize the Director of Finance to enter into negotiations for the
acquisition of lands at Hapu`u, Kapanai`a, and Halelua.
Respectfully yours,
John Winter, Chairman
North Kohala Community Development Plan Action Committee
Cc: Michael Yee, Planning Director
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