Federal grant aids
land preservation

$2M will go toward a proposed
deal for Pupukea property

A federal agency is giving $2 million to help protect 1,129 acres of land above Pupukea once slated for development.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration grant will be used to help buy the land, last listed on the market for about $12 million.

"The land and scenic bluffs at Pupukea and Paumalu are treasures that must be protected," said U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), who helped secure the NOAA funds. "The preservation of this land on the North Shore will ensure that future generations are able to enjoy its beauty and the simple open space."

The Trust for Public Land's Hawaii chapter has been working for nearly a year to purchase the property, and officials said the NOAA funds take it a "significant step closer" to reaching its goal. The state and city have already appropriated funding to the project, and the U.S. Army has pledged to contribute up to $3 million.

"A significant portion of the needed funding is now in place," said Josh Stanbro, the trust's project manager in the islands. "The federal money is an important part of this purchase and demonstrates the commitment that we have from our congressional delegation."

The Pupukea property was at the center of a battle with the community in the mid-1990s when Japanese-based owner Obayashi Hawaii Corp. announced plans for a 765-acre development. The proposal called for residents of the subdivision to farm on their lots, satisfying a requirement that homes in the state agriculture district be in some way involved in agriculture.

"For the past 15 years or so, the community's been interested in protecting this property," said Blake McElheny, of the North Shore Community Land Trust. "We're just really pleased that we have so many partners stepping up and making the community vision happen."

Stanbro said once the property is purchased, it will be handed over to the state and protected as public land. The trust is still in negotiations with the land's owner, and it is unclear when the deal will be finalized.

He said a public purchase of the land will help preserve cultural and World War II historic sites as well as native Hawaiian plants in the area.

McElheny said there are also hopes to provide agricultural and educational opportunities on the land, including native plant restoration projects.