Posted on: Wednesday, September 8, 2004

$1 million OK'd for 73 Hana acres

Associated Press

WAILUKU, MAUI — The Maui County Council has given initial approval to spending nearly $1 million toward the purchase of 73 acres in the Hana district.

The Mu'olea Point land includes a historic Hawaiian temple and the site of a summer residence of King David Kalakaua.

Under the purchase plan, the nonprofit group Trust for Public Land has secured a six-month emergency loan for the purchase.

The property was valued at about $4 million in 2001, and the trust plans sell it to the county for about $3 million.

Council members approved using $1 million from the county's open-space fund.

Money generated from fund-raisers, a donation of an undisclosed amount from landowner Hanahuli Associates Inc. and grant money from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is expected to make up the additional $2 million for the purchase.

Two native Hawaiian groups, the Kipahulu 'Ohana and the Ho'onipa'a No Hana Foundation, are expected to hold public meetings and develop a management plan for Mu'olea.

Council members unanimously passed the funding bill for the Mu'olea Point site on first reading Friday.

The second and final reading is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 21.