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Cofounder urges OHA to acquire 2.9-acre Guaylupe parcel, citing burials and cultural sites
Summary
A Pu'uhonua O Guaylupe cofounder told the OHA investments and land committee the 2.9-acre Guaylupe parcel contains iwi kūpuna and archaeological sites and urged the board to proceed; staff said Clean Water and Natural Lands funding was approved and outlined due diligence steps that will inform a future recommendation.
Pu'uhonua O Guaylupe cofounder Helen Sonora Pale told the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Committee on Investments and Land Management that a proposed 2.9-acre transfer of land known as Guaylupe contains traditional burials and documented archaeological sites and should be protected from development.
"This 2.9 acre property contains traditional burials and cultural sites that form a significant cultural landscape," Pale said during public testimony. She said her organization has stewarded the site for more than four years, hosted community workdays involving hundreds of volunteers, and assembled broad neighborhood and organizational support for permanent protection.
Staff provided an update on due diligence for the proposed transfer, saying the project's application to the Clean Water and Natural Lands program was "unanimously approved by the Honolulu City and County Council." The committee heard that procurement for a boundary/property survey, environmental site assessment, and appraisal has been initiated and that the full due-diligence package will include title review, risk analysis and an operations assessment.
Daniel Sandmeier and Laurie Walker told trustees the due-diligence work is intended to produce a complete report with findings and, if appropriate, a recommendation to the board on whether OHA should acquire and manage the property. Staff emphasized that additional cultural resources on the site may yet be identified and that stewardship plans will be evaluated for alignment with OHA's strategic plan (MIMO).
Trustees did not take a formal vote on acquisition during the meeting; staff said they will return with findings and a recommendation after due diligence is complete.
