County to negotiate for purchase of Hakalau valley land

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The Hawaii County Council authorized negotiations for the purchase of an 83-acre parcel in Hakalau valley in a 9-0 vote Wednesday.

The Hawaii County Council authorized negotiations for the purchase of an 83-acre parcel in Hakalau valley in a 9-0 vote Wednesday.

But owner Steve Shropshire said his offer remains the same.

To sell the property, which he said he planned to use for eco-tourism, he said the county also needs to purchase Hakalau Point, which he also owns. The price for both would be $4.25 million.

He said eco-tourism would tie in with his development plans for the point, which include a brewery, community park, restaurant and processing facilities for local agriculture.

Either purchase would occur through the county’s Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund. Sales through the fund are voluntary.

Some Hakalau residents also have urged the county to purchase the point for a park.

Shropshire said negotiations over the sale would be separate from his offer to provide a trail to Papaikou Mill Beach through land he owns as part of development of an “agriculture village.”

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