Conservation Easement Purchases

At a glance

What: two resolutions spend Clean Water and Natural Lands Fund money on perpetual conservation easements. Resolution 26-134, CD1 covers twelve parcels known as Ke Kīpuka o Kalaeuila in Kahuku. Resolution 26-151, CD1 covers one parcel (with condominium property regime units) in Wailupe.
Outcome: both adopted July 8, 2026, 8-0 (Tulba absent). Kiaʻāina moved; Tupola seconded.
Kalaeuila: Kiaʻāina described one of Oʻahu's last intact coastal dune ecosystems with cultural, historical and agricultural resources, still vulnerable to private development. Supporters included Adam Borello of the North Shore Community Land Trust, N. Kawelakai Farrant, Reyna Ramolete Hayashi of the Trust for Public Land (general comment), Achiu and Lori Walker of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Weyer thanked the partners.
Wailupe: nine people testified in support or general comment, including Wayne Tanaka of the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi and representatives of Puʻuhonua o Wailupe. Kiaʻāina hoped the purchase becomes a model for voluntary conservation with private landowners; Waters thanked the landowner, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Department of Land Management.

City Council journal (minutes), regular meeting of July 8, 2026 (adopted August 12, 2026): https://hnldoc.ehawaii.gov/hnldoc/document-download?id=28796

Both resolutions adopted 8-0 after extended testimony.