 |
 |
|
|
Land ProjectsDespite being a young organization, we have had some substanial successes already. With a paid staff, we will gain the resources necessary to exand our efforts and make sure that these projects are properly protected forever. Honu'apo in Ka'u Working cooperatively with the people of Ka'u, HILT Board member John Replogle, the local people of Ka'u, the Trust for Public Lands, and Ka Ohana O Honu'apo, we all raised awareness and the money to save Honu'apo. As life long resident Roplogle says, “what you see here you don’t see in the rest of Hawaii or the rest of the world. When I was growing up, Honu'apo Bay and its surrounding tidal wetlands were part of a sugar plantation. Once the plantation closed and the land was put up for sale – 225 shoreline acres for $3.4 million – it was dangerously close to becoming developed like so many other other coastal areas of the Big Island.” Members of the community in nearby towns – Na'alehu, Pahala, and Ocean View – weren’t about to let this happen. Working together, all the groups secured county, state and federal funds to purchase the land from a private developer. They also received donations from private sources, such as the $40,000 given by new landowners in the area. The land has now been deeded to the State of Hawaii from the Trust for Public Land, and will eventually be turned over to the County of Hawaii. Long term plans for it include re-establishing the natural habitat in the estuary, which was damaged during its plantation days, and creating a nursery for fish as well as a possible breeding habitat for the ai`o, the endangered Hawaiian Stilt bird. We also plan to partner with the County of Hawaii’s Parks and Recreation Department to create and manage the largest county park in the state of Hawaii. The park will contain trails for hiking and camping areas, and most importantly, leave plenty of coastline open for Hawaiians to enjoy. HILT is continuing to work with Replogle and Ka'u landowners to pursue more land conservation projects in Ka'u, this very special part of our Island. Wai'aha Open white sand beaches along Alii drive in Kailua-Kona are few and far between. Thanks to the efforts of local business people, conservationists and HILT, the little white sand beach at Wai'aha, also known as Honl’s, is the newest County beach park. Honl’s is known to the locals as a fine surf spot and, in the past, served the Ali’i as a Heaiu Nalu or surf Heaiu. When the surf is up, you are likely to see many young people ripping down the waves on the famous Boogie board. Tom Morey of Morey Boogie Boards invented and surf tested the very first body board at Honl’s over a generation ago. HILT was asked by the community to step in and provide assurances that we would manage and steward the land in cooperation with the County Parks and Recreation Department. “Donations for the stewardship and enhancement of Wai'aha keep showing up unexpectedly,” said Dr. Rick Bennett, HILT Board member and Wai'aha Committee Chair. In the near future, the public restrooms and parking across the street will open. Contact Duane Erway for more information about the blessing ceremony wishing to malama Wai'aha (derway@hawaii.rr.com). Ongoing Land Projects Many believe the upland forests of Hawai`i are essential keys to the critical fresh water cycle of the island and the loss of every acre of forest impairs the natural water cycle and threatens future water supplies. The Carlsmith forest project is a cooperative effort with the landowner, State Department of Land and Natural Resources, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and HILT to set this forest aside in its natural state as part of the State’s Forest Reserve system. Working with HILT, a private donor has stepped in to facilitate the sale and protect this land forever. The Carlsmith Trust property is a 1,336-acre parcel located between 2,400 and 3,800 feet elevation on the wet windward flank of Mauna Loa in the Hilo district of the Island of Hawaii. The property is relatively inaccessible, and directly adjacent to the Waiakea Forest reserve on its south and west boundaries, and private forestlands to the north and east. The property is also due north of the 1942 Lava Flow Natural Area Reserve. It is part of the larger Windward Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa watershed and has never been harvested for native hardwood species. While there have been no formal biological surveys on this property, a recent overflight and hike into adjacent forests indicate that native flora diversity on the parcel is very high. The parcel contains a native lowland wet forest with a canopy dominated by `ohi`a and koa and some lolu palms, with other wet forest trees, ferns, and shrubs. Recent biological surveys in the surrounding area indicate a variety of threatened and endangered animal and plant species. Forest bird surveys on adjacent state lands indicate the property likely provides a habitat for the endangered species. Stay tuned for more information as HILT works to complete this transaction and protect this intact forest. 2006 Land Projects Despite being a young organization, we have had some substantial successes already. With a paid staff, we will gain the resources necessary to expand our efforts and make sure that these projects are properly protected forever. Keopuka Shoreline This conservation easement provides permanent protection for 185 acres of shoreline just north of Kealakekua Bay, including vast coastal, cultural, and scenic features. The landowner, Pacific Star LLC, donated the conservation easement to the Hawaii Island Land Trust. Pacific Star retains ownership and is permitted limited use the property. HILT is truly honored to accept responsibility for the perpetual conservation of Keopuka coastal lands and looks forward to working together with the landowner and the broader community to see that Keopuka will be unchanged forever. Honu'apo in Ka'u Working cooperatively with the people of Ka'u, HILT, the local people of Ka'u, the Trust for Public Lands, and Ka Ohana O Honu'apo, we all raised awareness and the money to save Honu'apo. As life long resident and former Board member John Roplogle says, “what you see here you don’t see in the rest of Hawaii or the rest of the world. When I was growing up, Honu'apo Bay and its surrounding tidal wetlands were part of a sugar plantation. Once the plantation closed and the land was put up for sale – 225 shoreline acres for $3.4 million – it was dangerously close to becoming developed like so many other coastal areas of the Big Island.” The land has now been deeded to the State of Hawaii from the Trust for Public Land, and will eventually be turned over to the County of Hawaii. Long term plans for it include re-establishing the natural habitat in the estuary, which was damaged during its plantation days, and creating a nursery for fish as well as a possible breeding habitat for the ai`o, the endangered Hawaiian Stilt bird. HILT is continuing to work with Replogle and Ka'u landowners to pursue more land conservation projects in Ka'u, this very special part of our Island.
|
Call 1-808-324-4458
|
|||||||
Hawaii Island Land Trust, PO Box 976, Kealakekua, HI 96750 Home · News · About
HILT · What is a
Land Trust · Projects · Contact
Us · Links · Support Design by Zhenya Delate |
