| Acquisition to preserve wetlands at Kaehu Bay WAILUKU - Maui County has purchased 64 acres of undeveloped property fronting Kaehu Bay, preserving the wetland and fishponds in a $996,000 deal brokered with the Trust for Public Land and other groups, according to an announcement Tuesday. The Trust for Public Land, a private national nonprofit land conservation organization, assisted the county with the acquisition. The trust also paid for an evaluation, a preliminary environmental study, and other fees and costs. Duke Sevilla, one of the founders of Hui O Na Wai 'Eha and a longtime Paukukalo community member, said he got the idea of restoring Kaehu's taro patches and fishponds forty years ago from his father, A. The land has been appraised at $2 million, according to the announcement, and the county's real property tax records show an assessed the necessity of nearly $1. Michael Spalding, a member of the Trust for Public Land's Hawaiian Islands Program Advisory Council, said the acquisition was "an amazing team effort. It is a popular coastal area for surfing, fishing and other recreational activities. "We hope that the community and individuals who love the land will work in addition to us to heal and restore the resources on the land for future generations," Holt said. Venus Rosete-Medeiros, the founder of Neighborhood Place and a current board member, said members of the nonprofit are "ecstatic" that the threat of development of the property has been removed. "The land is a resource that helps restore and heal the families which are able to use the land," Rosete-Medeiros said. "As a Realtor and somebody who loves the ocean, I have been familiar with the threat of development of this land for some time, and am very happy it has been saved for the community and that it will be there for future generations of surfers, fishermen and local families," he said. Kauahea Inc. The property features numerous Hawaiian cultural sites, including habitation structures, agricultural terraces, former fishponds, shrines and burials, the announcement said. The property is adjacent to the Paukukalo Hawaiian homestead and near the Waiehu Kou homesteads. "I am glad that it is finally coming to a reality," he said. The Neighborhood Place of Wailuku offers cultural education and land stewardship programs to Maui youth along with their families on 8 acres on the property as part of its cultural strengthening program. |
Thursday 3 May 2012
Acquisition to preserve wetlands at Kaehu Bay
