Council committee forwards resolution urging purchase of 364.4-acre Honolulu Landing to preserve cultural resources

A Hawaii County Council committee voted to forward Resolution 286-25 to the full council with a favorable recommendation, urging the director of finance to begin acquisition negotiations for about 364.4 acres known as Honolulu Landing in Puna using the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund (PONC).

The resolution, introduced by Council member Kerkowitz, asks the finance director to acquire the property to protect cultural and natural resources and to open certain areas for educational, gathering and cultural practices. The committee recorded eight ayes with one member excused when it voted to forward the resolution.

Supporters told the committee the site has strong cultural ties to native families and should be removed from the open market. “I’m here to strongly support Resolution 286-25,” Lisa Monacapoo McNamara said during public testimony. “I’d like you guys to reaffirm and complete the purchase acquisition that was already approved in 02/2007. This is a cultural place for the Hawaiian people.”

Lena Alas Lightholm, who said she lives in Ho‘okena and is a lineal descendant, told the committee that protecting the land would help future generations connect to kupuna. “We are not in the past tense. We’re a living people with a living culture,” she said.

Longtime community advocate Eileen O’Hara urged the county to act while the parcels are on the market. She noted the site lies in lava zone 2 and argued the purchase is prudent now to avoid speculative development. O’Hara told the committee the property is available for roughly $3.9–4.0 million and cited earlier county spending for lava recovery and buyouts to emphasize cost risk from potential development and disasters.

Deputy Director of Finance Malia Keikai told the committee the mayor recently authorized staff to procure an appraisal and described the next steps: obtain the appraisal, use it to determine a county offer (the county is generally limited to the appraisal price), and enter negotiations with the seller. “Once we get the appraisal back … within the next 2 to 3 months, we should have the process moving,” Keikai said.

Property manager Hamana Ventura told the committee the administration was following the PONC acquisition process and that staff would continue to work with the finance office on next steps.

Council member Kerkowitz said community pressure and the current market opportunity justified pushing the matter forward after the property sat on the PONC list for years. Kerkowitz noted the parcel had been placed on the county’s open-space list in February 2006 with a score of 85 and described PONC as having available funds to pursue acquisitions.

Committee members asked for additional details before the council hearing, including the property owner and broker information. Keikai said staff would provide the appraisal and follow-up documentation as they proceed.

Action: motion by Council member Kerkowitz, seconded by Council member Eneba, to forward Resolution 286-25 to the full council with a favorable recommendation. Outcome: forwarded; tally recorded as eight ayes, one member excused. No final purchase was completed at the committee meeting; the resolution urges the finance director to proceed with acquisition steps.

Looking ahead, the administration will return with appraisal results and any recommended purchase terms; the committee and public expect updates in the coming months as staff completes procurement and negotiation steps.