Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 28, Number 6, 1 June 2011 — Grants awarded to protect legacy lands [ARTICLE]

Grants awarded to protect legacy lands

The State Department of Land and Natural Resources' Legacy Land Conservation Program has awarded a total of $4.45 million to nonprofit organizations and county agencies to protect lands having important cultural, natural and agricultural resources. The $4.45 million in state funding will secure approximately $7.6 million in matching federal, county and private funding. Gov. Neil Abercrombie in late April released funding for the Legacy Land Conservation Conunission's recommended projects. Awards were made to: • County of Hawai'i for Kaiholena, in North Kohala, Hawai'i Island; $1,650,000 to acquire 76.6 acres and protect open space, cultural and archeological sites and coastal resources. •Livable Hawai'i Kai Hui for the Hāwea Heiau Complex and Keawāwa Wetland in Honolulu; $325,000 for the purchase of 5 acres to preserve native bird habitat, wetlands and cultural sites.

• Maika'i Kamakani 'O Kohala for Kauhola Point in North Kohala, Hawai'i Island; $975,000 to aequire 27.5 acres, preserve cultural sites, recreational areas and coastal lands. • Trust for Pubhc Land and North Shore Conununity Land Tmst for Turtle Bay Mauka Lands in Ko'olauloa, O'ahu; $1.5 million for a conservation easement over 469 acres to protect productive agricultural lands. Grant funding for projects that protect lands having value as a resource to the state is awarded through the Legacy Land Conservation Program annually, subject to the availability of funds. For information, visit hawaii.gov/ dlnr/dofaw/llcp or eall (808) 5860921.