Aloha everyone.

It is April 7th, 2026.

The time is now 10 55.

Welcome to the 23rd session of the Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions.

Here today we have with us in the Hu Chambers.

Councilmember Kagiwato, you behind the screen.

Yes, okay.

Councilmember Kaguado, Councilmember Houston, Councilmember Kirkowitz, Councilmember Inaba, Councilmember Viegas, Councilmember Golemba, and myself, Councilmember Kimball, Chairman Setting Officer of this committee.

Mr.

Clerk, do we have any testimony on items?

Thank you so much, Madam Chair.

Just noting that we do not have any testifiers at your remote sites.

We do have a couple via Zoom and one testifier here in Hilo.

So what we'll do is we'll start with our Zoom testifiers and end with our Hilo testifier.

The first of which is Dane Kealoha to be followed by Belden Kealoha, both testifying on resolution 513 via Zoom.

Dane, if you're ready to begin, if you could unmute your mic and introduce yourself, you'll have three minutes.

We are partnering with Belden Kaloha and the Kaloha Ohana.

No relation as far as I know, by the way.

As well as Hawaii County to co-hold an agricultural conservation easement on the Kaloha family Loe property.

There is a resolution on your agenda introduced to approve the uh punk or uh open space funding for uh the acquisition of a conservation easement there.

Um just to give you some background, uh the Kaloha Loyi is uh historic Loe with ancient uh walls that remain.

Um it was once part of an uh a wide network of Loikalo that sustained uh Niu Li and the surrounding community.

Um many of the newer landowners in the area have actually destroyed their historic Loe to build on those properties, uh, which affected the cultural use of those.

So this being one of the few uh that are intact and were not damaged by development of other kind um is really of historical importance.

Um, you know, there's also risk that the family may have to sell this property at some point and without any protection in place.

Um, we really have no controls over what would be done with with the property.

Um it's located at the convergence of Waikane and Nioli streams, uh and the nature of Loikalo, uh the streams flood the Loi uh for Kalo production, and then the water is returned to the stream, which um you know does not harm the stream flow in in as other types of stream diversions may do, and actually improves the water quality uh while also allowing uh groundwater recharge for the area uh to be supported with uh you know the lo E ponds um allowing us you know to slow the water flow.

Um that also mitigates um some flood risk for the area, which as you know, with what we've we've just experienced with the recent storms, um, you know, flood mitigation um is of importance as well.

And where the streams exit is at uh KLKLA downstream, and so the the uh you know quality of the water entering down there um is supported as well.

Um, in addition to food production, um the 30 seconds, please.

Okay, great.

Um, so I'll just skip ahead to you know, Hilt is uh we we hold 55 conservation easements across Hawaii.

Um we partner with other jurisdictions um as well as Hawaii County uh currently um and we're looking forward to partnering with the county to co-hold this conservation easement, and we would take the burden of monitoring and enforcing off the county's plate.

Um, and thank you very much for consideration of this resolution, and um, you know, this very important conservation project for uh Niu Lee and North Kohala.

Thank you so much for your testimony, Chair.

Our next testifier is Belden Kealoha, to be followed by Blake McNaughton here in the Hilo chamber.

Belden, when you're ready to begin, if you could just unmute your mic and introduce yourself.

You'll have three minutes.

Aloha chair and members of the county council.

Um my name is Belden Kohokulani Kealoho.

I am fourth generation descendant of the Alu Moku Ohana of Niulii, Makapala, and the current owner and steward of the properties we're talking about.

My home is located across the stream of New Lee, and I'm moved here to Kohala back in 1988 with my family and with the blessings of my Makuo.

I was entrusted to Aina that I lived on today.

This Aina has been in our family since 1914.

Long before my great grandfather acquired these properties, or Ohana were colour farmers and fishermen of Pololoo for many generations.

That tradition continued when our families settled in New Lee.

Cultivating Kahlo in Uala.

My mother shared stories of her grandfather.

And relatives teninaloe and um Burlup Sachs filled with Kalo being transported by Mews for processing.

And at that time, families to Raoul New Lee and Marcopala from Maoka and Makai were actively growing Kahlo.

Now over time, this practice declining expression of Kohala Sugar Company, World War II, diverted significant amount of labor, land and water resources.

Many families relocated.

My great grandmother, her children, uh moved away to Oahu.

Except for my grandmother.

And she's the main reason why I also speak on behalf of my family.

She remained, she became the steward of that I know and was respected Kumuhula.

Her home, her halal serve as a place of learning and gathering where she taught many homana, including members of the Lim family.

Esteemed Kumahula, such as Yolani Luahini, George Nawape would visit and gather there.

And she also performed Hula Monaco as well as Corner Village back in the 60s and 70s.

In 1996, there was an effort led by the University of Hawaii to restore several family Loe in the Macapala newly Waikama Gulchers, students and Kahlo farmers from Oahu came to assist, and it became a community effort.