HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

173

TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO WORK WITH MOANALUA GARDENS FOUNDATION TO EXECUTE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR THE USE OF KAMANANUI (MOANALUA) VALLEY FOR EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL PURPOSES.

 

 


     WHEREAS, Kamananui Valley, also known as Moanalua Valley, was obtained by the Department of Land and Natural Resources following the dissolution of the Estate of Samuel Mills Damon in March 2007; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Department of Land and Natural Resources opened Kamananui Valley to the public for educational and recreational purposes in 2008; and

 

     WHEREAS, the pristine three thousand seven hundred acre Kamananui Valley is the last remaining undeveloped ahupuaa in urban Honolulu; and

 

     WHEREAS, as Hawaii becomes more urbanized and open spaces and park areas become less available, many of Hawaii's families and visitors delight in Kamananui Valley's many natural beauties, including wildlife, plants, and cultural artifacts; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Moanalua Gardens Foundation was established as a nonprofit organization in 1970 by the granddaughters of Samuel Mills Damon, Frances "Patches" Damon Holt, and Harriet "Haku" Damon Baldwin, to protect Moanalua Gardens and Kamananui Valley from the construction of the H-3 highway and preserve the park's and valley's important historical and cultural sites; and

 

     WHEREAS, the mission of the Moanalua Gardens Foundation is "[t]o preserve and perpetuate the native culture, environment and people of Hawaii through education, celebration and care for Kamananui Valley and Moanalua Gardens"; and

 

     WHEREAS, for over forty years, the Moanalua Gardens Foundation has continued the legacy of Samuel Mills Damon and his granddaughters to protect and preserve Moanalua Gardens and Kamananui Valley; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Moanalua Gardens Foundation has given to the community in other ways, including providing environmental education in Hawaii by teaching its award-winning Partners in Education program to over one hundred thousand public school children and presenting the annual Prince Lot Hula Festival, the largest non-competitive hula festival in Hawaii, at Moanalua Gardens for thirty-four years; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Moanalua Gardens Foundation has stated its sincere interest in partnering with the Department of Land and Natural Resources to help care for Kamananui Valley for the people of Hawaii and to conduct educational and cultural programs in Kamananui Valley as a community resource to benefit the public; and

 

     WHEREAS, Moanalua Gardens Foundation has the knowledge, experience, expertise, and commitment to care for Kamananui Valley and to conduct educational and cultural programs in Kamananui Valley; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is urged to work with the Moanalua Gardens Foundation to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding for the purpose of helping to protect and preserve Kamananui Valley, one of Hawaii's most treasured cultural and historical areas, for the people of Hawaii; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to submit a report of its progress in entering into the Memorandum of Understanding with the Moanalua Gardens Foundation, including findings and recommendations, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2012; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson and members of the Board of Land and Natural Resources and the President of Moanalua Gardens Foundation.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Kamananui Valley; DLNR; Moanalua Gardens Foundation; Memorandum of Understanding