Land near the Kapoho tidepools would be set aside for public access under a resolution forwarded by the County Council’s Finance Committee.
Land near the Kapoho tidepools would be set aside for public access under a resolution forwarded by the County Council’s Finance Committee.
The resolution authorizes the county to acquire 322 acres on two parcels from Vacationland’s land trust. The committee supported it in a 9-0 vote Tuesday evening. It will next be considered at the council level.
Testifiers told the committee the acquisition would help protect shoreline access and habitat for wildlife.
“Ocean access is scarce in Puna,” said Barbara Bell, adding that lowland forest and burial sites would also be protected.
The Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission had ranked the properties as No. 7 on its prioritized list of lands to be acquired.
The cost of the acquisition wasn’t immediately clear.