Federal money going to a North Kohala land conservation project will be used to purchase 17 acres, several state groups announced Friday.

The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration named the land conservation project adjacent to Lapakahi State Historical Park its top priority, bringing $1.25 million in the next fiscal year, The Trust for Public Land-Hawaii, the State Office of Planning's Coastal Zone Management Program and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources announced Friday.

The money will be used to purchase privately owned shoreline land next to the park's southern border.

The Coastal Estaurine Land Conservation Program picked the Lapakahi project first out of 57 possible projects.

"The national No. 1 ranking is a testament to this property's unique cultural and natural resources, which are invaluable to Hawaii and to our entire nation," said state Planning Director Abbey Mayer. "It was a pleasure working with The Trust for Public Land to protect this incredible place and its history for future generations."

Over the last several years, the trust has helped DLNR's Division of State Parks raise funds to acquire the 17-acre, privately owned shoreline parcel that is surrounded on three sides by Lapakahi State Historical Park. The property is next to the state's Lapakahi Marine Life Conservation District, home to more than 116 marine species.

In response to community concerns regarding threatened residential development of the property, the trust negotiated an agreement with the landowner to buy the property and include it within Lapakahi State Historical Park. The trust also successfully assisted the state in obtaining a $1.25 million grant from the state's Legacy Land Conservation Program, which will be matched by the federal funding.