Hawaii island resident Moanikeala Akaka said she was happy when more than 25,800 acres of rain forest land at Wao Kele o Puna was obtained by the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs for conservation.
"It’s very, very positive," said Akaka, a former OHA trustee.
The 2006 purchase from the Campbell Estate was made possible through $3.4 million from the federal Forest Legacy Program.
Once again this year, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources is seeking proposals for the program. The deadline is Aug. 20. States may submit up to three projects, not to exceed $10 million, with no individual project exceeding $7 million.
The program has helped to protect more than 2 million acres nationally, including 45,000 acres in Hawaii, the department said.
Most of the land is on Hawaii island, including 1,800 acres at Kapua in South Kona, providing habitat for the threatened Hawaiian hawk, endemic forest birds and the endangered hoary bat, according to the DLNR website. Another site is the 2,249 acres of land at Papa and Honomalino in South Kona, also a refuge for native birds and the hoary bat.
On Oahu the program has protected some 635 acres of land in Kalauao Valley for Honolulu’s watershed and native birds.
Wao Kele o Puna encompasses lowland rain forest and was the focus of struggle by Native Hawaiians who sought to protect it from development so they could collect plants for native rituals and visit burial sites, federal program officials note.
Besides direct purchase, funds may also be used to pay a private landowner for easement rights that limit development on certain lands, such as the $2 million for some 9,000 acres at Kealakekua Ranch.
Although easement rights are secured, the landowner retains ownership and management of the land, the department said.
Hawaii has secured protection for more acres than many larger states using the same program.
"With the help of land trusts and conservation-minded landowners, we have been able to protect our important forest resource, preserving watersheds, sheltering endangered species and … our culturally important sites," Roger Imoto, administrator for the Division of Forestry and Wildlife, said in a news release.
Applications are available at hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw/forestry/hflp. Landowners and nonprofits interested in participating in the program may contact Melissa Sprecher at the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife at 587-4167 or Melissa.I.Sprecher@hawaii.gov.