THE BOARD OF KA `OHANA O HONU`APO requests letters of support for acquisition of Kaunamano, the 1,363-acre parcel at the south end of Honu`apo Bay that is currently for sale. The Trust for Public Land is assisting the county, Ka `Ohana O Honu`apo, the Keanu family of Ka`u and the Ka`u community to protect these lands in perpetuity. The county has recommended funding for the purchase, and the partners are seeking state and federal matching funds. TPL will include support letters received by this Monday, Sept. 2 in its state funding application. TPL describes Kaunamano as “a place of great historic significance as a seat of government for Ka`u chiefs who kept a watchful eye on Kaunamano from a vantage point overlooking the large coastal property and the Kahua `Olohu makahiki grounds directly mauka of the property. The property contains at least 444 ancient Hawaiian cultural sites with more than 3,900 features, including enclosures, mounds, platforms, walls, salt pans, walled terraces, petroglyphs, papamu, heiau, ceremonial sites, burial sites, a refuge cave (and other lava tubes) and a portion of Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail which connects the coastal villages of Honu`apo to the north with Waikapuna to the south. Many of these sites are in the largely intact ancient coastal village of Pa`ula. Native coastal plants dominate the coastal landscape, `opae `ula (native red shrimp) abound in the large coastal cave of Puhi`ula, and its pristine waters are home to numerous native fish, limu and other marine species. “Acquisition would protect native gathering rights, subsistence fishing, the Ka`u community’s access to the property’s nearly four miles of coastline, native ecosystems, possible endangered species, cultural sites and burials, and a cultural landscape of historic significance. Acquisition would also allow for some recreational practices to continue such as recreational fishing, flying kites from the property’s lookout area Pohina Pali Lookout, and possibly camping. Excluding the coastal village, the property is grazed by a local rancher. Since there are no trees on this land, the huge, open vistas from the top of the property down to the shoreline allow ocean views almost unparalleled from any other site in Ka`u. The property offers high educational and cultural benefits from being able to visit and learn from the many cultural sites. Kauanamano means “’the multitudes are placed here.’ Protecting Kaunamano will honor a place where Ka`u’s kupuna lived and where the people of Ka`u visit today to remember their past. In letters of support from individuals, TPL suggests discussing personal connections to the property and why is it important that the properties be kept undeveloped. “Please speak to what you personally care about. For some, it will be preserving Ka`u’s rural/local/country character, for others it will be the cultural sites, and for others it will be being able to teach Ka`u youth about Ka`u’s history.” Organizations can also send letters of support. Letters can include answers to the several questions. How does the organization’s mission relate to protection of these properties in Kaunamano? How could the organization’s students/clients/beneficiaries benefit from the properties remaining undeveloped? Would the organization’s beneficiaries benefit from Kaunamano functioning as a place of learning for area schools and the community, and/or for the perpetuation of Hawaiian cultural practices? How? What is the organization’s vision or wish for the property? Send support letters to Laura Ka`akua at [email protected], or Laura Ka`akua, The Trust for Public Land, 1003 Bishop Street, Suite 740, Honolulu, HI 96813.
Posted on: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 01:44:24 +0000
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