Council OKs purchase of land near Naalehu

HILO — A 13-acre Ka‘u property that once hosted Native Hawaiian sporting events came closer to being preserved Wednesday.

In a 9-0 vote, the Hawaii County Council gave its final approval to a resolution authorizing Finance Director Deanna Sako to negotiate acquisition of the land near Naalehu.

Ka‘u Councilwoman Maile David said the property, located on Mamalahoa Highway, was the site of games associated with the Makahiki season, a time during the winter months Hawaiians traditionally associated with recreation and peace.

In more recent history, the site was used for cattle grazing and was purchased by Puna residents James and Elizabeth Weatherford in 2008 for farming.

The county later discovered through an archaeological survey cultural artifacts identifying the site as part of a larger Makahiki complex. At the time, it was considering purchasing the land so that it could lay pipes to a wastewater treatment plant it planned to build behind the property.

The Department of Environmental Management has since changed its preferred site to another adjacent parcel that won’t have the same impact.

James Weatherford told the council they are happy to sell it to the county for conservation purposes.

“Being a person who loves this island, I appreciate the opportunity,” he said.

The property, known as Kahua Olohu, is assessed at $179,000. The Weatherfords purchased the land for $240,000, according to county records.

The county would acquire the property through the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund.

During earlier council meetings, some testifiers noted an interest in hosting traditional Hawaiian sporting events on the property once again.

The final vote was delayed twice while council members checked whether James Weatherford, who was a council aide in 2005 and 2006, had any involvement with formation of the PONC fund.

David said there was no such connection.

Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.