Posted on: Wednesday, March 12, 2003

Trust gets $2 million for Maui land purchase

Advertiser Staff

The campaign to save Mu'olea Point from development received a boost yesterday with the announcement of a $2 million federal appropriation for acquisition of the East Maui property.

U.S. Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawai'i, said the fiscal year 2003 Omnibus Appropriations Bill contains the financing through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation program.

The Trust for Public Land and the Ho'onipa'a No Hana Foundation still need to raise an additional $2 million by the end of the month to acquire the 70-acre property, which is rich in natural and cultural resources.

Landowner Hanahuli Association Ltd. approached the trust about buying the property, but set a deadline of the end of March before offering it to another buyer.

If the fund-raising effort is successful, the Trust for Public Land will purchase the property and give it to Maui County. The foundation will hold a conservation easement that restricts development and requires a local voice in land management.

The property's archaeological features include the remnants of a fishing village and a heiau. Hana residents fish on the coastline, and endangered monk seals frequent the shore. Native 'o'opu and 'opae are found in the Ala'alaula Stream at the property's edge.