MEDIA RELEASE

The Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission (PONC) encourages the public to submit new suggestion forms for future land acquisition and preservation. Suggestion forms for the current year are due by the last business day of May 2009.

The Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund was established in 2005 as County Code Chapter 2, Article 42, section 2-214 for acquiring land or property entitlements in the County of Hawaii for the following purposes:

1. Public outdoor recreation and education, including access to beach and mountains;
2. Preservation of historic and culturally important land areas and sites;
3. Preservation of natural resources, including buffer zones;
4. Preservation of forests, beaches, coastal areas, natural beauty and agricultural lands;
5. Protection of watershed lands to preserve water quality and water supply.

PONC consists of nine volunteer commissioners, representing each County Council district, who meet monthly to review all suggestion forms and to create a prioritized list of qualifying lands worthy of preservation. These lists and additional information are submitted in the Annual Report to the Mayor each December. PONC meetings are open to the public.

To date the County has purchased a Kāwā parcel in Ka‘ū and property adjacent to Waipi‘o Valley with the fund. For more information please contact the County Finance Department, Property Management Division at (808) 961-8069 or visit our website at http://co.hawaii.hi.us/finance/ponc.htm.