Honolulu's potential conservation in Puna being considered for protection

The Hawaii County Council is renewing its efforts to acquire a 364-acre property in Pahoa, known as Honolulu Landing. The coastal area, which has been on the county's priority list for preservation since 2007, holds significant cultural, archaeological, and ecological value.

Mayor Kimo Alameda has expressed interest in the county buying the land but would like to wait for the market assessment by the county. The property, listed for $3.89 million by Brent Wenner of KW Commercial, is home to native flora and fauna, including freshwater springs and habitats for endangered species such as the Hawaiian hawk ('io), the Hawaiian hoary bat ('ope'ape'a), and the Hawaiian owl (pueo).

The coastal section of the property, currently in conservation, covers about 30 acres with nearly a mile of oceanfront. Honolulu Landing contains significant archaeological features, including village complexes, heiau, ancient burial sites, house platforms, and traditional agricultural areas, as first recorded by the Bishop Museum in 1932. The area is considered eligible for inclusion in the Hawaii Register of Historic Places.

Community support for preserving Honolulu Landing is evident in an online petition that has gathered about 1,000 signatures. The petition, which can be viewed at www.change.org/p/petition-from-honolulu-landing-hui, calls for the county to purchase the land and restore public access to the Puna coastline, especially after the 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption of Kilauea, which cut off many traditional pathways to the ocean.

Dr. Mālama Solomon, the Executive Director of Malama O Puna who has been advocating for the preservation of Honolulu Landing since the 1990s, acknowledged the legacy of the nonprofit in elevating Honolulu Landing to high-priority status. Malama O Puna is a nonprofit credited with championing the preservation of the area.

The new council resolution, introduced by Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz, is listed as the first agenda item for Tuesday's meeting of the council's Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions. The resolution calls for culturally informed land management and urges the county to work closely with lineal descendants, cultural practitioners, scientists, and conservation groups. Under commission guidelines, the county cannot purchase the property for more than its assessed market value.

Eileen O'Hara, the current executive director of Malama O Puna, stated that she has been trying to get the property into preservation since the 1990s. The commission directs the county to allocate 2% of property tax revenue toward land acquisitions. The remaining 334 acres extend inland in a triangular shape, ending at Manalo Street in Hawaiian Shores.

The Hawaii County Council's renewed push to acquire Honolulu Landing comes as a step towards preserving this valuable coastal area for future generations.