Congress to
decide fate of
Maui parcel
The unspoiled property
By Pete Pichaske
could become part of
Haleakala National Park
Star-BulletinWASHINGTON -- When Congress returns from recess in a couple weeks, its lengthy agenda will include determining the fate of a lovely, rugged piece of property, replete with waterfalls and ponds and an ancient Hawaiian trail on the southern coast of Maui.
The Senate Appropriations Committee has set aside $4.6 million in the Interior Department spending bill to acquire the 1,475-acre parcel and make it part of Haleakala National Park.
The House, in its version of the bill, set aside no money for the land. Before Congress adjourns in October, the two chambers will have to decide whether the land becomes part of the park or not.
In Maui, they're hoping the answer is "yes."
"It's the best piece of land left on Maui that's not publicly owned," said Haleakala's superintendent, Don Reeser. "It's spectacular."
The Maui County Council and island conservation groups support the acquisition, said Reeser.
The property in question abuts the southeast tip of the park and runs to the coast. It is an unspoiled wilderness that includes several streams, waterfalls and ponds, an intact native forest, an old Hawaiian trail, Hawaiian archaeological sites and, according to Reeser, "truly spectacular views."
A biologist recently found what he believes is a new species of fern on the property, said Reeser.
He added that he wouldn't be surprised if researchers found "other things in there."
The property is owned by the Trust for Public Lands, a conservation group dedicated to preserving wilderness.
The purchase would increase the size of the now-28,000-acre park by about 5 percent.
Money for the acquisition would come from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, set up years ago by Congress with offshore oil and gas royalties.
The House has approved spending $139 million from the fund next year, while the Senate has set aside $212 million.
The Haleakala addition is only one among scores of park acquisitions in 42 states that are funded in one version of the bill but not the other, which has park advocates nationwide crossing their fingers.
Conservation groups familiar with the legislative process are optimistic that Congress will be generous.
"It's rare that they take a project completely off if it's on either list," said Rindy O'Brien, vice president of policy for the Wilderness Society. "They may knock the money down some, but they don't usually take it off completely."
The predictions are music to the ears of Haleakala's Reeser, whose park also is in line to get $1 million for trail improvement when Congress gets around to approving the 1998 conservation fund appropriation. That spending is still being debated.
"This would be a valuable addition to the park," said Reeser.
Hawaii leaders
By Rod Thompson
argue merits of
Hamakua land usage
Star-BulletinHILO -- Should Hawaii County acquire more land for parks or provide land for agriculture?
Mayor Stephen Yamashiro says parks while Hamakua District Councilman Dominic Yagong argues for agriculture, as the debate continues over 4,418 acres of country land in Hamakua once proposed for timber.
The County Council's Finance Committee will hold hearings this week on a proposal by the mayor to trade the acreage to Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate in exchange for land for parks and roads, and a small amount for agriculture.
Yagong has made a counter-proposal for the county to lease the 20 parcels for agriculture.
The mayor's plan to lease the land for tree farming to Oji Paper Co. fell through last year when the state Board of Land and Natural Resources voted down a similar lease for state land.
The county was left with the question of what to do with the land it acquired in place of back taxes owed by Hamakua Sugar Co. when it went out of business in 1994.
Yamashiro wants to acquire about 30 acres from Bishop for park expansion in Hilo, Puna, and Kona.
Yagong responds, "We are fiscally incapable of handling any park improvements," noting that the county recently postponed indefinitely a pay raise for United Public Workers because the county has no money for that purpose.
Yamashiro says the park additions will add little to maintenance costs.
He also wants to acquire Bishop lands for two road projects, to add about 120 acres in small agricultural parcels to existing state agricultural lands, and for other possible needs.
Yagong says the 4,400 acres is needed for agriculture, citing a list he has of agricultural proposals totaling 17,500 acres.
Yamashiro, noting that the state leased about 2,000 acres previously intended for timber to a dairy, still has roughly 3,000 acres unleased. If the demand for land is so great, why haven't proposals been made for that land, he asks.
Trading the county's 4,400 acres to Bishop would allow the estate to develop them for agriculture, possibly by expanding Prudential Timber's present eucalyptus planting on Bishop land, the mayor says.
Yagong says Bishop already owns 39,000 acres in Hamakua, and trading more land to the estate would increase its "land monopoly" in the district.
The Finance Committee will hold hearings at 6 p.m. tomorrow at Yano Memorial Hall in Captain Cook, South Kona, and 5 p.m. Friday at the Honokaa High School cafeteria.
