Cayetano first voiced his concept for a series of protected wilderness areas in his State of the State address in 1996. He got the idea from Mike Wilson, the environmental attorney who formerly ran the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

It's a flexible idea, without a bureaucracy, without a detailed set of rules. Fundamentally, it is a concept involving the preservation of undeveloped open space, wilderness and coastline areas with special qualities.

"Some just kind of stand out, like Ka Iwi and Na Pali," Cayetano said.

The Division of State Parks views the "string of pearls" concept to include having wilderness parks within the state parks system and to preserve new park areas.

The governor said the parks might be minimally developed to add parking areas and restrooms, but any commercial activity or anything managed as intensively as the City and County of Honolulu manages Hanauma Bay is out.

"The idea is to keep these places pretty much in the natural state," he said.

Blaich said "setting aside heritage areas that we can enjoy" is a goal she considers "really appropriate for my money as a taxpayer." But she worries the state may not be sufficiently committed to the proper protection and coordination of activities on the parcels.

"Where a lot of people are leery is the issue of long-term management, only because we've not given the Department of Land and Natural Resources the tax dollars they deserve to take care of these magnificent underpinnings of our lives," Blaich said.

One solution the state might consider is forming partnerships with community organizations, conservation groups and others with an interest in preserving the land, she said.

Coastal areas make up 'pearls'

The identified "pearls" are all coastal, although some, such as the Na Pali Coast State Park, extend a mile or more inland. Na Pali includes plummeting cliffs, narrow valleys, rocky and sandy beaches, and a narrow cliffside trail that supplies access to only about half of the valleys in the park.

Several of the wilderness areas were already in state control when Cayetano first spoke of them as jewels, but his administration has arranged the acquisition of several others, including Keolonahihi, donated to the state in 1998, and Ka Iwi, for $12.8 million, and Lumaha'i, for $890,000, this year.

Some have distinct archaeological values, including Keolonahihi, the compound of the former Big Island leader Keakealaniwahine. The 16-acre park a couple of miles south of Kailua, Kona, has temple sites, numerous stone walls, platforms and other features, including one believed to have been the personal residence of Keakealaniwahine, who ruled the Big Island in the mid-1600s.

Some are green, windward sites like Lumaha'i on Kaua'i and some are dry, leeward sites like Ka Iwi on O'ahu and Kekaha Kai north of Keahole on the Big Island.

Some may be appreciated primarily for their recreational value, like the surfing, diving and sunbathing features within Makena State Park on Maui, but each also has cultural and natural history values that add to their importance.

Several, like the Ka Iwi coast, also have been the subject of active community struggles, often to protect them from development.

Maha'ulepu is one of these. The group 'Ohana O Maha'ulepu fought in the 1970s to prevent the rezoning of the region for resort development. Malama Maha'ulepu, which includes some of the original activists from nearly 30 years ago, is working to get the land out of private hands so its preservation can be ensured.

Kaua'i Mayor Maryanne Kusaka said that when Steve Case bought Grove Farm late last year, the property's white sand beaches and rocky outcroppings must have been considered a valuable part of the company.

"They've always looked at it as Grove Farm's undeveloped jewel," she said. "It's a sizable amount of land."

Talks continue on Maha'ulepu

Cayetano said he has had three meetings with Dan Case, "tossing some ideas around."

The governor conceded that buying the land outright would be a major stumbling block for a state in constant financial stress.

"The value is a big challenge when you're talking about condemning it. The Case family understands the need to keep Kaua'i green and beautiful. On the other hand, you can't expect people to just give things away," the governor said.

Kusaka agreed. "We shouldn't ask them to donate that land. The owners should be compensated in a fair manner," the mayor said.

Cayetano said he has not inspected the site he wants the state to acquire, but hopes to visit it during the next two weeks.

He anticipates a creative solution will have to be found for the state to gain control of the region, largely because any spare capital improvement money the state has is being spent on schools.

At Ka Iwi, the state found federal Department of Transportation money, designed to protect view planes along highways, to help pay for its purchase. Federal money was also used for the purchase of the Lumaha'i land on North Kaua'i.

"The challenge is to be creative. You might want to exchange things," for example, he said.

You can reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 245-3074.

• Na Pali Coast State Park, Kaua'i, 6,175 acres. Cliffs and valleys, some accessible by trail, some only by boat, some off-limits to hikers and campers.

• Lumaha'i Beach, Kaua'i, 40 acres. A crescent of white-sand beach, backed by hala forest, acquired by the state in May. Movie location where Mitzi Gaynor sang "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair" in "South Pacific."

• Maha'ulepu, Kaua'i, 2,000-plus acres. Sandstone cliffs, dunes and beaches on the island's south coast purchased by AOL Time Warner Chairman Steve Case when he bought Grove Farm Co. in December. State in talks to acquire.

• Ka'ena Point State Park and Natural Area Reserve, 778 acres. Includes native coastal vegetation, Keawa'ula Bay, shoreline fishing and a 2.7-mile hike, one-way, along the coast.

• Ka Iwi, O'ahu, 300-plus acres. Purchased by the state in May from Kamehameha Schools, adding this Queen's Beach region to a swath of state- and county-owned parkland from Koko Head and Hanauma Bay to Makapu'u.

• Makena State Park, Maui, 164 acres. The region south of Wailea, including the volcanic cone Pu'u ñla'i and a beach prized for its length and white sand.

• Kekaha Kai State Park, Hawai'i, 1,642 acres. Formerly known as Kona Coast State Park, notable sites include Mahai'ula and Kua Bay, with a 4.5-mile trail and the cinder cone Pu'u Ku'ili between them.

• Keolonahihi, Hawai'i, 16 acres. Donated to the state in 1998; the home of Keakealaniwahine, great-great-grandmother of Kamehameha I. She and her mother were the only two women to have ruled the island.

• Honomalino, Hawai'i. The Legislature this year passed a resolution calling on the state to take steps to establish a "wilderness" or "primitive type" park including coastal land from Honomalino to Manuka in South Kona. Total acreage not available.