(BIVN) – On June 23, the Hawaii County Council voted to adopt a resolution to award a Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Maintenance Stewardship Grant to Na Mamo o Kāwā.

Kaʻū councilwoman Maile David, who introduced the measure, led the discussion during a June 6 council Finance Committee meeting in Hilo (video above).

Here is the language of Resolution 214-17:

A RESOLUTION TO AWARD A PUBLIC ACCESS, OPEN SPACE, AND NATURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION MAINTENANCE STEWARDSHIP GRANT TO NA MAMO O KĀWĀ.

WHEREAS, Section 10-16 of the Hawai‘i County Charter (2016) provides for a Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Maintenance Fund; and

WHEREAS, Section 10-16, subsection (a) provides in part that the purpose of this fund is “to preserve the land, promote public safety, and maintain a healthy stewardship”; and

WHEREAS, Section 10-16, subsection (h) provides for a stewardship grant program, which allows 501 (c)(3) nonprofit corporations to apply for funding for grant-in-aid projects that will be utilized for public safety, maintenance and preservation of lands acquired using Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resource Preservation Fund; and

WHEREAS, Communication No. 53, as issued by the Director of the. Department of Parks and Recreation, submitted for the Council’ 3 consideration five applicants for stewardship grants for various properties that have been acquired by way of the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Funds; and

WHEREAS, Na Mamo O Kāwā submitted an application to provide land stewardship and cultural education for the Kawa properties (TMK: 9-5-016:006 & 025; and 9-5-017:005 007); and

WHEREAS, the Council finds that awarding a stewardship grant to Na Mamo O Kāwā will allow it to continue its ongoing work restoring the property and its significant features, including a freshwater spring, loko i‘a, heiau, and ahu; and

WHEREAS, this grant will also assist with the implementation of a native revegetation plan and a cultural site monitoring plan, while maintaining a safe and secure access to the property, thus satisfying the provisions contained in Section 10-16; and

WHEREAS, the Council further finds that awarding a stewardship grant to Na Mamo O Kāwā will benefit the community-at-large by demonstrating that maintenance fund monies can be utilized to “preserve the land, promote public safety, and maintain a healthy stewardship” of those properties that have been acquired using Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation funding; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I that, pursuant to Section 10-16 of the Hawai‘i County Charter (2016), the Council hereby approves a Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Maintenance Stewardship Grant in the amount of $48,850 to be awarded to Na Mamo O Kāwā for the purpose of protecting, preserving, and restoring the Kāwā properties (TMK: 9-5-016:OO6 & 025; and 9-5-0171005 007)

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this resolution to the Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Director of Finance.