Appropriates funds to purchase private lands along the South Kona and Ka`u coastline on the island of Hawaii. (SD1)

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The south Kona-Ka`u area on the island of Hawaii consists of wild coastline, well-preserved cultural features, incredible scenic resources, and areas of important coastal, recreational, and cultural uses by local residents.

The legislature finds that this area is known for its expansive coastal scenic views as well as being home to important cultural, historical, environmental, open space, visual, and recreational resources. These unique features attract tourists to this southern tip on the island of Hawaii, thereby providing important economic support for this rural community. Additionally, this area contains important working farms and ranches that depend on open spaces and readily available land to continue traditional ways of life in the district. Numerous anchialine pools and coastal springs are important features that characterize this coastal area and serve as important habitats for numerous species.

Critical cultural and natural resource lands within the south Kona-Ka`u coastal area are presently being offered for sale. Federal funds are available for coastal preservation, but require a one-to-one match by local or state governments in order to apportion the costs for purchasing and protecting important lands within the south Kona-Ka`u area.

The legislature finds that the south Kona-Ka`u coastline is a unique and valuable resource not only for local residents, but also for all residents of the State as well as the growing visitor economy on the island of Hawaii. The legislature further finds that the break-up and sale of large landholdings along the south Kona-Ka`u coastline provides a unique opportunity for the State to protect the important environmental, agricultural, and cultural resources in this area.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate moneys toward the purchase of critical lands in the south Kona-Ka`u area.

SECTION 2. The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for fiscal year 2005-2006, for the purpose of purchasing lands in the south Kona-Ka`u area on the island of Hawaii; provided that no funds shall be made available under this Act unless the department of land and natural resources obtains matching federal funds or private contributions for the purpose for which this sum is appropriated.

SECTION 3. The appropriation made for the acquisition authorized by this Act shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal biennium for which the appropriation is made; provided that all moneys from the appropriation unencumbered as of June 30, 2008, shall lapse as of that date.

SECTION 4. The department of land and natural resources shall spend the full amount of funds authorized in this appropriation for the purchase of critical lands within the south Kona-Ka`u area.

SECTION 5. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2005.