COURTESY OF RON CHAPPLE
The Maui Coastal Land Trust has bought an ancient land dune with wildlife wetlands in northeastern Maui for preservation.
Maui trust purchases
land for preservationThe coastal area has wetlands
that draw endangered species
WAILUKU >> An ancient coastal land dune with wildlife wetlands has been purchased for preservation in northeastern Maui.
The Maui Coastal Land Trust said it has signed an agreement to buy the 277-acre property for $4.8 million.
The coastal land, located 10 minutes north of Wailuku and on the northern side of the county's municipal golf course, is on the old Waihee Dairy site and has a wetlands area frequented by endangered species, including Hawaiian stilts and coots and the Blackburn sphinx moth.
The dune, which also has a site of an ancient Hawaiian village, extends along the shoreline for 1 1/2 miles and rises in some places to a height of 200 feet.
The trust said it is discussing with the county the possibility of using some of its land to expand the nearby Waiehu Beach Park.
Officials plan to hold public meetings in the community to discuss potential uses of some of the 277 acres.
Trust officials said additional money will be needed to restore the 21 acres of wetlands, including the removal of alien grasses and plants such as Java plum trees.
The trust bought the land from Japanese-based Waihee Ocean Front Hawaii Inc., whose officials had planned to develop a golf course and residences before the Japanese economic downturn.
"This in an incredible opportunity to purchase such a vast tract of land holding a wide variety of conservation, cultural preservation and recreation opportunities for the people of Maui," said Dale Bonar, executive director of the Maui Coastal Land Trust.
Bonar said that while the county and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are expected to contribute $2 million each, the trust still has to raise some $800,000 in its community capital campaign.
He said $1.2 million also needs to be raised as an endowment fund "to ensure ongoing protection and management of the area's significant wildlife habitats, native wetlands and cultural sites."
Maui Councilwoman Jo Anne Johnson, chairwoman of the Parks and Recreation Committee, said she is "ecstatic" about the purchase.
"I think it's a great purchase," said Johnson, who has supported the acquisition. "I think it's a great opportunity for the public to see what can be done when we put together a public-private partnership."
The native Hawaiian group Hui Alanui O Makena, citing numerous burials in the dunes, were in the middle of a contested-case hearing opposing the proposed resort in 1995 when the developer withdrew its application.
Hui Alanui spokeswoman Dana Naone Hall said she was happy with the move to preserve the dunes.
"Finally, we're able to celebrate the fact that Waihee will continue to be protected," Hall said.
A $107,080 grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is funding preliminary restoration efforts.
Trust officials said initial work includes stabilizing access roads and trails, removing alien plants from the dunes and wetlands, and controlling access of predators into bird nesting areas.
Donations to the Waihee acquisition project can be mailed to Maui Coastal Land Trust at P.O. Box 965, Wailuku, HI 96753.
