MEDIA RELEASE

HONOLULU – The Legacy Land Conservation Program (LLCP) will convey approximately $3.3 million from the State Land Conservation Fund for land acquisition projects to protect Hawai‘i’s unique and valuable resources.

Five State and nonprofit applicants will receive grant funds for the permanent protection of lands having cultural, archeological and natural resource values.

“I am proud that the State is participating in these partnerships to preserve some of Hawai‘i’s rarest and most important resources,” stated Laura H. Thielen, Board of Land and Natural Resources Chairperson, “This year’s Legacy Land grants are utilizing mostly private and federal funds to protect resources that are valuable to Hawai‘i’s future.”

The State funds will leverage approximately $6.6 million in matching federal funds and $1.5 million in private and county funds towards the protection of Hawai‘i’s resources.

The Legacy Land Conservation Commission, a nine-member commission composed of cultural, agricultural and natural resource experts and representatives from each county, advised the Board of Land and Natural Resources on this year’s project selections. Governor Linda Lingle released funding for five of the Commission’s recommended projects in late May.

“The Commission was very enthusiastic about the quality of all of the recommended projects – both the resources being protected and the intent to benefit and involve the public,” stated Commission Chair Dale Bonar.

The following are summaries of the approved projects:

State of Hawai‘i – $982,956.50 for the acquisition of 3,582 acres in Honouliuli Preserve, Wai‘anae Mountain Range, island of O‘ahu, for its natural habitat, watershed, and recreational values;

State of Hawai‘i – $450,000 for the acquisition of 65.56 acres in Hamakua, Kailua, island of O‘ahu, for its natural habitat, watershed, scenic, and open space values;

State of Hawai‘i – $7,000 for the acquisition of 7 acres in North Kohala, island of Hawai‘i, for its cultural, historic, and scenic values;

State of Hawai‘i – $1,250,000 for the acquisition of 17.05 acres in Lapakahi, Kohala, island of Hawai‘i, for its coastal, cultural, and natural values;
Maui Coastal Land Trust – $609,425 for the acquisition of an agricultural conservation easement over 27.44 acres, in Pupukea, North Shore, island of O‘ahu, to be held by the North Shore Community Land Trust, for its agricultural and open space values.

LLCP projects are subject to a consultation process with the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the approval of the Governor. Grant funding for projects that protect lands having value as a resource to the State is awarded through the Legacy Land Conservation Program on an annual basis, subject to the availability of funds.

For more information on the Legacy Land Conservation Program please visit
http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw/llcp or call (808) 586-0921.