Leaving an endearing legacy for future generations is paramount to sustainability in Hawai'i, a sentiment shared by the Legacy Land Conservation Program (LLCP). The program provides funding for the acquisition of land having unique and rare cultural and natural resources. Recently, seven state, county and nonprofit applicants were awarded grants for the permanent protection of sensitive land on Moloka'i, Hawai'i Island, O'ahu and Kaua'i.
Over $3 million from the State Land Conservation Fund, of which every dollar has been matched with approximately three dollars in federal, county and private funds, will be used to acquire over 750 acres of threatened and unique natural resources, preserving scenic open spaces and archeological sites as well as protecting watersheds and agricultural production. The land will have the added benefit of preserving entire ecosystems, like native ohi'a forest and all the creatures that call the forest home, or maintaining and enhancing heavily used coastal recreation areas.
"Each of the recommended projects protects an important resource," says Legacy Land Conservation Commission Chair Dale Bonar. "Clean drinking water, our natural and cultural heritage, our agricultural lands, these are the resources that Hawai'i needs to maintain a connection to its past and build a sustainable future."
The most costly acquisition protects over 27 cultural sites on the Pao'o 'ahupua'a, in the North Kohala District, from development. The largest acquisition, over 614 acres on Moloka'i, protects critical watershed to prevent erosion damage to near-shore coral reef ecosystems and historic Hawaiian fishponds.
Here's a complete list of the seven Legacy Land grant recipients and acquisitions:
-County of Hawai'i and the Trust for Public Land; $945,000 for the acquisition of 10.61 acres on the island of Hawai'i; coastline lot within Pao'o 'ahupua'a, North Kohala District; protects over 27 cultural sites from development and maintains the natural landscape and scenic views of the Kohala coastline.
-Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry & Wildlife; $500,000 for the acquisition of a conservation easement over 614 acres on the island of Moloka'i; East Moloka'i, Kainalu, mauka of Kamehameha V Highway; protects critical watershed and prevents erosion damage to near-shore coral reef ecosystems and historic Hawaiian fishponds.
-Kaua'i Public Land Trust and the County of Kaua'i; $800,000 for the acquisition of 0.74 acre on the island of Kaua'i; on Hanalei Bay directly next to the Hanalei Pier; to be held by the County of Kaua'i; enhances and protects the heavily used Black Pot Beach Park area.
-Kona Historical Society; $255,592 for the acquisition of 2.11 acres on the island of Hawai'i; South Kona, makai of Mamaloahoa Highway; provides a scenic buffer for the historic H.N. Greenwell Store and additional space for preservation of the farming and ranching heritage of Kona.
-The Trust for Public Land and O'ahu Land Trust; $500,000 for the acquisition of a conservation easement over 107.73 acres on the island of O'ahu; ahupua'a of Ka'alaea, in the Ko'olaupoko District; to be held by the O'ahu Land Trust; protects agricultural production and maintains a portion of the rural character of windward O'ahu.
-Malu 'Aina Center for Non-Violent Education and Action and the Hawaii Island Land Trust (HILT); $231,788 for the acquisition of 11.14 acres on the island of Hawai'i; Puna District, ten miles south of Hilo, makai side of Highway 11; with a conservation easement to be held by HILT; maintains agricultural production on lands with kipuka deep soil and abundant rainfall.
-HILT; $35,000 for the acquisition of conservation easements over 6 acres on the island of Hawai'i; Puna District, in Hawaiian Orchid Island Estates adjacent to Kahauale'a Natural Area Reserve; preserves an intact native 'ohi'a forest canopy that allows native birds, insects and plants to travel and propagate.