SENATE APPLAUDS THE KĀNEʻOHE PALI CONSERVATION PROJECT LAND ACQUISITION

KĀNEʻOHE, OʻAHU – In a significant step forward for Hawaiʻi’s land conservation, Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DLNR-DOFAW) announced the transfer of over 900 acres of land from private ownership to the State of Hawaii DLNR-DOFAW for permanent protection and management of Kāneʻohe Pali. With the support of community members and Native Hawaiian nonprofits we are able to preserve the well-being, ecological integrity, and cultural heritage of the Kāneʻohe Pali.

The Kāneʻohe Pali serves as a vital habitat for 31 native plants and animals and holds profound cultural significance through hundreds of cultural sites and landmarks. It is home to one of Oʻahu’s most important watersheds that provides 60 percent of the islands drinking water and supplies 1.05 million gallons every day to the Honolulu Board of Water Supply. The Pali also houses abundant springs and 11 streams that sustain the diverse ecosystem.

"This is a huge win for the people of the windward side,” exclaimed Chair of the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee Senator Jarrett Keohokalole (Senate District 24 - Kāne‘ohe, Kailua). “Every Ko'olau resident has traversed these precious mauka lands, and our community is now assured that they will be protected for our grandchildren and beyond."

“This is a big win for preserving the critical areas that make our community the special place it is, protecting natural habitat and species, and will be forever held in the public trust for the benefit of future generations,” said Chair of the Transportation and Culture of the Arts Committee Senator Chris Lee (Senate District 25 - Kailua, Waimānalo, Hawai‘i Kai).

The acquisition was achieved in partnership between TPL, the state of Hawai‘i, the Department of Defense, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Funding for the acquisition included the State of Hawaii Legacy Land Conservation Program, from the Department of Defense’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program, and the USDA Forest Legacy Program. The property will be owned by DLNR-DOFAW and managed alongside local nonprofits and the Kāneʻohe community to continue restoration and long-term stewardship of the area.

About State of Hawaii’s Legacy Land Conservation Program 

The State of Hawai‘i dedicates a portion of its annual revenue from real estate conveyance taxes to the Land Conservation Fund. Each year the State Legislature provides the Legacy Land Conservation Program with some of the money held in the Fund. Then the Legacy Land Conservation Program distributes grants to community organizations and government agencies that strive to purchase and protect land that shelters exceptional, unique, threatened, and endangered resources. To learn more, visit dlnr.hawaii.gov/ecosystems/llcp/.

About Trust for Public Land 

A national nonprofit that works with communities to create parks and protect land. Established in 1972, they have protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,504 parks and outdoor places, and raised $111 billion in funding for parks and public lands. To learn more, visit tpl.org.

About USDA Forest Legacy Program 

A conservation program administered by the U.S. Forest Service in partnership with State agencies to encourage the protection of privately owned forest lands through conservation easements or land purchases. To learn more, visit fs.usda.gov/managing-land/private-land/forest-legacy.

About DOD Readiness Environmental Protection Integration Program (REPI) 

This program, established in 2002, preserves military missions by supporting cost-sharing agreements between the Military Services, other agencies, state and local governments, and private organizations to avoid land use conflicts near military installations, address environmental restrictions that limit military activites, and increase military installation resilience. To learn more, visit repi.mil.