The real estate holdings of Hawaii’s largest private landowner have increased.
Kamehameha Schools on Dec. 27 acquired 656 acres of the former Kahuku Ranch near Na‘alehu from Kahuku Ranch Properties in Makawao, Maui, for $7 million, according to the Hawaii Life Real Estate website. The sale was made by J. Douglas Beaton, a Hawaii Life agent.
The land, on the makai side of Mamalahoa Highway (Route 11) west of South Point Road, includes multiple structures such as a central lodge, seven ranch homes, a ranch office, corral, scale house, fenced pastures, storage facilities, covered base yard and paved roads.
It is across the highway from the 116,000-acre Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Kahuku Unit, a former Kahuku Ranch property acquired by the National Park Service and the Nature Conservancy in 2003 from the former Samuel Mills Damon Estate.
Crystal Kua, spokeswoman for Kamehameha Schools, which is a $14.7 billion educational trust for Native Hawaiian students endowed by the will of the late Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, said Tuesday the acquisition “helps consolidate ownership of lands in the area.”
“This is kind of like a puka in between other parcels that we had, so this allows us to have a contiguous ownership in that area,” Kua said. “This gives us better access to our other lands in that area.”
The property abuts Kamehameha Schools lands at Wai‘ahukini and provides access to a large swath of Pakini ahupuaʻa, which also is KS land.
Kamehameha Schools said in a statement its immediate focus is on properly securing and stewarding the ‘aina and facilities.
“Through responsible stewardship of ‘aina, we support vibrant, resilient communities where keiki learn and thrive,” said Jamee Miller, director of the trust’s ‘Aina Ulu, which works with KS tenants and partners on impactful outcomes that contribute to community resiliency. “Through planning and collaboration with the community, there is an opportunity to link educational, economic and community resources while forging strong partner networks and relationships.”
Added Kua, “We probably have to go in and do an assessment of the structures before we decide on any long-term use.”
The property is zoned agricultural. According to the Hawaii County Property Tax website, 455.464 acres of the land is described as “pasture,” 191 acres as “waste land,” 3.43 acres as “vacant, no ag use” and 0.25 acres as “home site.”
Although most of the land is pasture, Kahuku Ranch sold off its cattle more than a decade-and-a-half ago, and Kua said there is “no grazing going on at the moment.”
“We’re looking for long-term uses, and agriculture is one of those uses, including pasture,” Kua said.“This is a special property for Kamehameha Schools. We look forward to having conversations with the community to decide some of the long-term uses — and have the opportunity to link to our educational, economic and community uses going forward.”
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
