Preserving Kohala: BLNR approves subgrant of funding for trust to purchase Mahukona acreage
STATE OF HAWAII
DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Division of Forestry and Wildlife
Chairperson and Members
Board of Land and Natural Resources
State of Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Land Board Members:
April 22, 2022
SUBJECT: REQUEST APPROVAL TO AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRPERSON TO
NEGOTIATE, ENTER INTO, AMEND, EXTEND, AND TERMINATE AN
AGREEMENT TO SUBGRANT A UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE
SERVICE RECOVERY LAND ACQUISITION GRANT BETWEEN THE
STATE OF HAWAII, DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL
RESOURCES, DIVISION OF FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE, AND HAWAIIAN
ISLANDS LAND TRUST D/BA HAWAII LAND TRUST, TO ACQUIRE
LANDS IN MAHUKONA, NORTH KOHALA DISTRICT, HAW AI’I ISLAND,
TMKs (3) 5-7-003:002, (3) 5-7-003:003, (3) 5-7-003:010, (3) 5-7-002:011, (3) 5-
7-003:001, (3) 5-7-003:018, (3) 5-7-003:007, (3) 5-7-003:008, (3) 5-7-002:027, (3)
5-7-002:036, and (3) 5-7-002:037
BACKGROUND:
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (“FWS”) and DLNR have entered into a Federal
Recovery Land Acquisition Grant Agreement Number F22AP00277-00 which provides
$4,000,000 for the acquisition of fee title to real property of 642 acres in North Kohala, Hawai’i
Island. Mahukona Navigational and Cultural Preserve (“Mahukona”) is part of a coastal ecosystem
encompassing the ancient Kohala Field System between Lapakahi State Historical Park and
Kapa’a Beach Park, both properties owned by the State of Hawai’i. Mahukona contains many
federal and state-listed species and is strategically important for regional invasive species control.
The proposed subgrant agreement will permit DLNR to subgrant the FWS grant funds to another
state or local agency or non-profit organization (“potential recipient”), conditioned on the grant
funds being used to acquire fee title to the identified real property and the potential recipient
agreeing to accept the provisions and obligations outlined in the proposed subgrant agreement.
Hawaiian Islands Land Trust d/b/a Hawaii Land Trust (“HILT”) is that intended recipient. HILT
has raised additional contributions to purchase Mahukona from the County of Hawai’i
($8,000,000), Legacy Land Conservation Program grant ($3,000,000; pending Board approval),
and private contributions ($1,000,000+; pending HILT private fundraising for costs for staff and
operations to ensure a successful acquisition and for future stewardship).
ITEM C-1
DISCUSSION:
The proposed sub grant agreement would allow funds to be transferred to HILT to complete the
purchase. It would also require HILT to grant a perpetual conservation easement to the County of
Hawai’ i across all TMKs.
CHAPTER 343 ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
By the requirements of chapter 343, HRS, an environmental assessment is not required as this
request does not include approval of an action, under §§343-2 and 343-5(a).
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the Board:
Authorize the Chairperson to negotiate, enter into, amend, extend, and terminate an agreement
to subgrant a United States Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Land Acquisition Grant to
Hawai’i Land Trust to acquire lands in Waimea, North Kohala District, Hawai’i Island, (3) 5-
7-003:002, (3) 5-7-003:003, (3) 5-7-003:010, (3) 5-7-002:011, (3) 5-7-003:001, (3) 5-7-
003:018, (3) 5-7-003:007, (3) 5-7-003:008, (3) 5-7-002:027, (3) 5-7-002:036, and (3) 5-7-
002:037.
APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL:
SUZANNE D. CASE, Chairperson
Board of Land and Natural Resources
Respectfully submitted,
DAVID G. SMITH, Administrator
Preserving Kohala: BLNR approves subgrant of funding for trust to purchase Mahukona acreage
Hundreds of acres in North Kohala, rich in cultural sites and once slated for development, have been approved for purchase to be preserved and protected.
The state Board of Land and Natural Resources unanimously approved an agreement on April 22 to subgrant a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Land Acquisition Grant between the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, and Hawaii Land Trust to acquire lands in Mahukona.
