Goal of protecting Maui, Molokai lands, species comes within reach

BLNR allocates funding for Nuu, Kawaikapu acreage

By MELISSA TANJI, Staff Writer
HONOLULU — Native and endangered birds, Hawaiian cultural sites and valuable open lands on Maui’s southeastern shoreline and on Molokai’s southeastern flank are one step closer to being protected forever.

Earlier this month, the state Board of Land and Natural Resources approved nearly $1.8 million from its land conservation fund to assist land trusts involved in the purchase of 78 acres at Nuu on Maui and 196 acres of Kawaikapu Ranch land on Molokai.

The state’s Legacy Land Conservation Program has allocated $994,724 to the Maui Coastal Land Trust for the purchase of the Nuu parcel from Kaupo Ranch. The site boasts “one of the highest-quality wetlands in Hawaii,” possesses dune systems and is home to birds such as the endangered stilt or aeo, said Dale Bonar, executive director of the Maui Coastal Land Trust, the entity involved in the purchase.

The legacy land program dedicated $767,976 to the Molokai Land Trust for the purchase of the Kawaikapu Ranch lands. The parcel, an important watershed that stretches from the ocean to the mountain, is home to taro loi, the Kawaikapu Waterfall, and native birds and plants.

The legacy land funds provide only part of the needed money for the land acquisition. The Nuu purchase will require a total of $4 million and the Kawaikapu parcel, $1.28 million.

Both land trusts are hoping to receive a boost from the county’s Open Space, Natural Resources, Cultural Resources and Scenic View Preservation Fund, which receives 1 percent of annual property tax collections for land preservation and acquisition.

Mayor Charmaine Tavares’ administration has allocated $220,776 to the Nuu purchase and $480,000 to the Kawaikapu acquisition in the current budget. Both items appear to have made it through the budget process untouched.

The state and county funds have helped the Maui Coastal Land Trust to put its goal within reach. The trust also got a boost from two U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service grants for endangered species and coastal wetlands protection.

“We’re looking with anticipation to closing on it (the Nuu purchase) by the end of summer,” he said.

When the land trust acquires the parcel at Nuu, “it will still be there and accessible to the Maui community for traditional use” Bonar said.

The Maui Coastal Land Trust will conduct plant restoration as well as implement measures to protect endangered and native birds. The trust will get rid of invasive plants, repair fences to keep pigs from the wetlands areas and maybe even trap mongoose, he said.

Floating nest boxes in the water in the wetland may also be set up for birds, keeping them away from predators, he said.

On his last trip to the area, Bonar said, he saw stilts, koloa, coots, a night heron and a nene.

“It was amazing,” he said.

Another feature of the shoreline parcel is the traditional landing and fishing area used for centuries by local residents. Nuu Landing was once used by Kaupo Ranch paniolo to “hoau pipi,” or swim cattle to boats for shipping.

The purchase of the shoreline lands will extend an umbrella of protected acreage. The parcel abuts the 4,300-acre Nuu Ranch property acquired by Haleakala National Park earlier this year.

On Molokai, the Kawaikapu Ranch land stretches from sea level to 2,100 feet in elevation and includes the Kawaikapu Waterfall and stream. Kawaikapu means “the sacred water.”

An Environmental Protection Agency report in 2002 said the stream supported aquatic life including fish and shellfish and was used as a drinking and agricultural water source and for cultural and ceremonial purposes.

Local farmers have grown taro, sugar cane and sweet potato in traditional stone retaining walls and mounds in the area.

The apapane bird, also known as a Hawaiian honeycreeper, has been found in the upper-forest areas of the property, and native plants also have been located and identified.

The Molokai Land Trust said more surveys of the entire property are needed to truly understand the value of the land, but with it as the steward, the land will be protected.

“With the Molokai Land Trust as the owner, the land can slowly heal,” according to land trust documents.

The land board also approved legacy land program funds of $737,300 for expansion of a Waianae organic farm on Oahu; $1.5 million for the acquisition of Kawa Bay, where hawksbill turtles nest on the Big Island; and $700,000 for the acquisition of a parcel on the north shore of Kauai within the proposed Kilauea Coastal Preserve.

• Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.