State Releases Funds for Land Conservation Projects

Governor Linda Lingle recently approved the release of $3.3 million from the State's Legacy Land Conservation Fund to preserve some 3700 acres of Hawaii's natural and cultural places. The State's funds will be matched with $6.6 million from the Federal government and $1.5 in private funds to purchase the land located on Oahu and the Big Island of Hawaii.

These land parcels were recommended to the state's Board of Land and Natural Resouces by the Legacy Land Conservation Commission, a nine-member commission of cultural, agricultural and natural resource experts and representatives from each county. The parcels were chosen based on their cultural, archeological and natural resource values.

Approved projects for the 2009 Grants:

• $982,956.50 to the State of Hawai‘i for the acquisition of 3,582 acres in Honouliuli Preserve, Wai‘anae Mountain Range (O‘ahu);
• $450,000 to the State of Hawai‘i for the acquisition of 65.56 acres in Hamakua, Kailua (O‘ahu);
• $7,000 to the State of Hawai‘i for the acquisition of 7 acres in North Kohala (Hawai‘i);
• $1,250,000 to the State of Hawai‘i for the acquisition of 17.05 acres in Lapakahi, Kohala (Hawai‘i);
• $609,425 to the Maui Coastal Land Trust – for the acquisition of an agricultural conservation easement over 27.44 acres, in Pupukea, North Shore (O‘ahu), to be held by the North Shore Community Land Trust.

State agencies, counties and non profit land conservation organizations can apply for the grants to fund the acquisition of Hawaii's cultural and natural places for preservation and conservation. Grants are awarded annually to recipients who match at least 25% of the total project costs.

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