Funds sought for upkeep
of Maui parcel

WAILUKU » A group is turning its sights on $300,000 in donations after successfully lobbying the Maui County Council for $1 million to buy Muolea in East Maui.

How to give Donations may be sent to Trust for Public Land, 212 Merchant St., Suite 320, Honolulu 96813; or call 808-524-8564.

Tily Shue, the Trust for Public Land's associate regional director, said the group needs about $300,000 to pay for the cost of stewardship and planning for Muolea, a 73.2-acre parcel that includes a temple or heiau and remnants of Hawaii King Kalakaua's summer residence.

"We're hoping organizations and individuals that have an interest in the culture of Hawaii will support us and recognize the worthiness of this project," Shue said yesterday.

The Maui County Council passed the bill authorizing $1 million toward the purchase on Tuesday.

The Council has authorized the acceptance of $2 million from the federal government toward the purchase, and the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs has provided a $342,000 grant.

Under the proposal, the trust will purchase the land for $4 million from Hanahuli Associates and sell it to the county for $3 million.

Mayor Alan Arakawa, who signed the $1 million appropriations bill Tuesday, said he was thankful for the work of all parties, including the trust and his executive assistant, Mele Carroll, who wrote the grant proposal to obtain the $2 million from the federal government.

Trust project manager Josh Stanbro said donations have been coming in from various sources, including $1,000 from a San Francisco resident who had read a Star-Bulletin story about Muolea.