Hawai'i Land Preservation Network

We’ve been following the news updates from Global Footprint Network, which focuses on global sustainability issues. And through that we became aware of a new project at the Hawai`i Preparatory Academy done in conjunction with Global Footprint. The project, called Footprint Futures, “is designed to cultivate in the next generation of leaders the ability to engage critically with the most pressing issue of the 21st century – how to achieve lasting human well-being amidst tightening resource constraints.” Read more about the program here. While on the site, make sure to take a look at the compelling explanation regarding the Ecological Footprint of humans.

The summer 2010 edition of Land Trust Alliance’s Saving Land magazine features Doug Sensenig’s (executive director for Hawaii Island Land Trust) advice in the article entitled Growing a Strong Board. Written by Marc Smiley, the article focuses in on what land trusts across the nation are doing to maximize their board member’s strengths and keep them engaged in the organization. “It’s very important to get everyone to feel that they’re contributing – more than just showing up at a meeting every month,” says Sensenig. Read the full article here to find out more about how you can expand your circle of involvement, understand board culture and drum up creative ways to engage your board.

Make sure to check out the beautiful photo on the inset to the article of a koa tree preserved by ranch owners David and Josephine De Luz, The Nature Conservancy and Hawaii Island Land Trust located on a conservation easement protecting over 4,500 acres of the Kukaiau Ranch on the Big Island.

Well, we haven’t been blogging. That’s for sure. But we’re going to get rolling again. There’s lots of exciting activities still taking place in Hawaii, and we will try to report them or give you links to them. Here we go….!

Two meetings of the Legacy Land Conservation Commission will be held on December 7, 2009, and December 8, 2009. The December 7, 2009, meeting will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Room 322b, Kalanimoku Bldg., 1151 Punchbowl St., Honolulu, Hawai`i. The December 8, 2009, meeting will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Board Room (Room 132), Kalanimoku Bldg., 1151 Punchbowl St., Honolulu, Hawai`i.

Both meeting agendas are available on the Legacy Land Conservation Program website.

Last week it was announced that two-thirds of Ulupalakua Ranch will be placed in an easement to the Maui Coastal Land Trust. Some 12,000 acres will forever remain agricultural lands. The land extends from coastline property a mile south of Makena to the 6,000-foot elevation of the Polipoli Spring State Park.

Ranch operations won’t change. However, the deal, which is the largest of its kind in Hawaii history, will preclude future generations from selling off the Ulupalakua land to developers, said the owner of the ranch, 78-year-old Pardee Erdman. It’s a family legacy all of Maui deserves, he said.

“Personally, to see the Erdmans make this donation is to see their hearts and how they care for the land,” Bonar said. “They view it with the reverence of an icon.”

Check out Maui Coastal Land Trust’s website for links to the news stories relating to this conservation easement.