Planning

Resource land acquisition plans and priorites in the State of Hawaii

State plans, county plans, and other projects that indicate priorities or policies for the acquisition of lands for the purpose of resource protection are listed below.  

  1. County Plans & Priorities (listed by county)
  2. State Plans & Priorities (listed by State agency)
  3. Other Plans & Priorities (listed by organization or agency)

Please note that this page is a work in progress, and may not contain a comprehensive listing of all relevant plans.  Comments and suggested additions are welcome, please email molly.e.schmidt@hawaii.gov.

 

1.  County Plans & Priorities

County of Hawaii

 

Hawaii County General Plan - provides the legal basis for all subdivision, zoning and related ordinances for the County of Hawaii.  It contains Historic, Natural Beauty, Natural Resources, Recreation, Land Use sections and several relevant maps and tables.  http://co.hawaii.hi.us/la/gp/toc.html

  

Community Development Plans (CDP) - In conformance with the General Plan requirements, Steering Committees are formed to provide guidance and input throughout the CDP process.  http://www.hcrc.info/community-planning/community-development-plans

 

Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission - This Commission develops two prioritized lists of lands for potential acquisition funding from the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund.  It ranks potential county acquisitions and possible partnerships with the State or nonprofit organizations.  http://www.co.hawaii.hi.us/finance/ponc.htm

  

County of Maui

  

Maui County General Plan - The principal tool for the county in evaluating public and private projects and their impacts on land use, the economy, environment, infrastructure, and cultural resources.  It contains Population, Land use, the Environment and Cultural Resources sections.  http://www.co.maui.hi.us/index.asp?nid=421

 
Open Space, Natural Resources, Cultural Resources, and Scenic Views Preservation Fund - no associated planning or prioritizing. Grants from this fund are considered by the Budget and Finance Committee and awarded by the County Council.  http://www.co.maui.hi.us/index.asp?nid=592

 
Community plans - Nine community plans have been adopted by the Maui County Council. These plans establish the goals, objectives, policies, and implementing actions for each district, and include revised land use designations.  http://www.co.maui.hi.us/index.asp?nid=423

  

The Shoreline Access Points Study lists specific parcels that have value as shoreline access points in a spreadsheet format and is available on the Maui County website at:  http://www.mauicounty.gov/departments/Planning/czmp/Shoreline_access_pts.htm.

 

The Pali to Puamana Parkway Project aims to realign the Honoapiilani Highway mauka-ward to reduce shoreline erosion and preserve park and open space areas along the corresponding section of the West Maui shoreline.  The final plan will include intended acquisitions of parks and open space. http://www.mauicoastallandtrust.org/parkway.php

 

County of Kauai

  

Kauai General Plan - A document that contains policies to guide the future physical development of the county and guides land regulation amendments and the review of specific zoning amendment and development applications. Includes Park Site needs, Land use maps, and Heritage maps. 
http://www.kauai.gov/Government/Departments/PlanningDepartment/TheKauaiGeneralPlan/tabid/130/Default.aspx

 

Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission - This Commission develops an annual list of recommended priorities of lands or property entitlements to be acquired or for the funding of projects directly related to the act, and to incorporate a countywide community input process into development of this annual list.  http://www.kauai.gov/Government/BoardsampCommissions/OpenSpaceCommission/tabid/294/Default.aspx

 

City and County of Honolulu

  

Oahu General Plan - Guides long-term development in the City and County of Honolulu. Contains Culture and Recreation, Natural Environment sections.  http://www.honoluludpp.org/planning/OahuGenPlan.asp

 
Sustainable Communities Plans - The eight Sustainable Communities Plans provide conceptual, long-range visions and policies to guide the land use and infrastructure decisions for each region.  Several of these community plans are scheduled for revision in late 2006.  http://honoluludpp.org/planning/DevSustCommPlans.asp
 

Special Area and Neighborhood Master Plans - These plans allow for the identification of the function, organization, and character of specific neighborhoods within a region’s Development or Sustainable Communities plan.  http://www.honoluludpp.org/Planning/SpecAreaNeighbor.asp

  

Clean Water and Natural Lands Commission - This commission has developed criteria for prioritizing annual project applications for land acquisition grants from the Clean Water and Natural Lands Fund.  http://www.honolulu.gov/council/cbc/cwnl.htm

 

 2.  State Plans & Priorities (organized by agency)

  

Department of Land and Natural Resources

 

Coastal Erosion Management Plan (COEMAP), DLNR

COEMAP seeks to improve the current erosion management in Hawaii.  Land acquisition is listed as one of the tools for accomplishing this goal.

Available at http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/occl/documents-forms/policies-plans/coemap.pdf/view


Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy & Maps, DLNR

In order to be eligible for federal State Wildlife Grants (SWF), states must prepare a Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CWCS).  The SWF program provides federal funds for the development and implementation of programs that benefit native wildlife and their habitat. The CWCS includes information on the distribution and abundance of species of greatest conservation need, descriptions of the location and condition of key habitats for the identified species.

Available at http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/cwcs/index.html

 

Forest Legacy Scoring Criteria, DLNR

Available in hard copy through DLNR, DOFAW
 

Forest Legacy, Amended Assessment of Needs, State of Hawaii, DLNR

This document assesses Hawaii’s forested areas’ natural resources and land use trends.
 
Hawaii Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Management Plan

This plan identifies feasible, cost-effective management practices to be implemented by State, Federal, county, nongovernmental, private, and volunteer entities for the environmentally sound prevention and control of aquatic invasive species.

Available at http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar/pubs/ais_mgmt_plan_final.pdf

Hawaii Forest Bird Recovery Plan, DLNR & USFWS
Revised in 2006, this plan provides individual species accounts and actions needed Statewide for the recovery of 21 taxa of forest birds in Hawai`i. In some cases the plan identifies specific land parcels where a particular recovery action is needed.
 

Hawaii Forest Stewardship Program Five-Year Program Plan (2001-2006), DLNR

This plan contains information on the Forest Stewardship programs goals and direction, as well as State forest resources and management goals and mechanisms.

Available at http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw/forestry/fsp

 

Hawaii State Priority Plan, DLNR

This plan for the Forest Land Enhancement Program contains information on State forest resources and management goals and mechanisms.

Available at http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/hfsp/

 

(unofficial) Historic Preserves Program Plan, DLNR

In 1993, the Historic Preservation Division completed a detailed plan for a preserves program.
Files available at the DLNR, Historic Preservation Division.

 
Historic Preservation Library, Bibliography Database, DLNR
Records of federal, state, and local development plans, permit applications, and land use approvals.  Where historic properties were thought to be probable, inventory surveys were conducted.

Available through the bibliography database at the Historic Preservation Library

 

State Historic Preservation Plan, DLNR

This plan is updated through 2014 and was created to provide a vision for historic preservation within the State. It serves as a guide for effective decision making, for coordinating historic preservation activities within Hawaii, and for communicating statewide historic preservation goals, policies and objectives.

 

State of Hawaii Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP), DLNR

Updated in 2008, the Hawaii SCORP provides the technical basis and planning assumptions for making decisions on State and County programs, County plans, and land use amendments.  An update is required every five years for the state to qualify to receive federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant funds to expand outdoor recreation opportunities statewide.
 

Water Resource Protection Plan, DLNR, Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM). The objective of the WRPP is to protect and sustain ground- and surface-water resources, watersheds, and natural stream environments statewide.  The plan is a comprehensive study of occurrence, sustainability, conservation, augmentation, and other resource management measures.

 

Department of Agriculture

 

Agricultural Lands of Importance to the State of Hawaii (ALISH), HDOA

Maps available on the State of Hawaii Office of Planning GIS website.

Available at http://hawaii.gov/dbedt/gis/miscmaps.htm


Agricultural Water Use and Development Plan, HDOA

The first two phases of the AWUDP were completed in 2003 and 2004, respectively, and focus on the rehabilitation needs of 10 state and private irrigation systems, estimated existing water demands, and identified projected diversified agricultural water needs through 2024. The AWUDP Phase 3 update is currently underway, and will focus on refining estimates of current and future water demands, including assessment of prime agricultural lands and GIS mapping of major agricultural water systems.


Incentives for Important Agricultural Lands, Preliminary Report, HDOA

Act 183, SLH 2005, provides for lands to be classified as important agricultural lands either through declaratory ruling or through a county mapping process.  This report provides some information about the designation process and the incentives being proposed by HDOA to encourage the protection of agricultural lands.

Updates and report available at http://hawaii.gov/hdoa/Info/ial/important-agricultural-lands-update

 

Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism

 

Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Plan, DBEDT

Hawaii Coastal Zone Management Program within the Office of Planning, DBEDT
This plan guides local participation in the federal Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program, which enables states to permanently protect coastal and estuarine lands by providing matching funds for community-based projects to acquire interests in property from willing sellers.
Available at http://www.geography.hawaii.edu/projects/celcp/hawaii_plan.html

 

Important Agricultural / Rural Lands Reform, DBEDT

The Office of Planning (OIP) has several power point presentations posted on OIP’s vision for rural and agricultural development for the State of Hawaii.  Land acquisition is mentioned as a tool for accomplishing OIP’s goals.

Available on the LUC website: http://luc.state.hi.us/project_ial.htm

 

Maps Depicting Patterns of Human Settlement and Agricultural Lands, DBEDT
Available on the LUC website: http://luc.state.hi.us/pattern_maps.htm

 

The Hawaii State Plan, DBEDT (Office of Planning)

Chapter 226, Hawaii Revised Statutes, establishes a statewide planning system that provides a framework for the implementation of State Plan policies, including State functional plans and guidance on county general plans.  The State Plan sets out broad policies and priority guidelines in the areas of the economy, physical resources & environment, and sociocultural development.  Twelve State Functional Plans further define the State plan in twelve policy areas.  Many of these policy areas relate to land acquisition: agriculture, conservation lands, historic preservation, recreation, water resources. The State Functional Plans were last updated in 1989 and 1991.

 

The Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Plan, Office of the Auditor

Through Act 8, SLH 2005, the Legislature created the Hawai’i 2050 Sustainability Task Force to review the existing State Plan and address the planning needs of Hawaii with a view to year 2050.  According to the Hawaii 2050 Sustainability Task Force Report, “the Hawai’i State Plan, the State’s Quality Growth Policy, and the State Functional Plans have now been generally recognized as no longer meeting the 21st century needs of State, county, and private agencies facing multiple issues of sustainability.”  The Office of the Auditor is now in the process of creating the Hawai’i 2050 Sustainability Plan, with the first draft planned for community review in July 2007. 

Available at http://www.hawaii2050.org/

  

The University of Hawaii

 

Coastal Imagery, University of Hawaii Coastal Geology Group

Shoreline imagery and information is available for each of the main Hawaiian Islands.

Soils of Hawaii, University of Hawaii CTAHR
Descriptions of the soil orders found in the Hawaiian Islands with maps of the soil order locations on each island.
Available at: http://www2.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/SCM-20.pdf

Forage Environment / Vegetative Zones of Hawaii, University of Hawaii CTAHR
Maps based on a 1942 description of the various plant zones on the major Hawaiian Islands; these maps are deemed relevant as a basic indicator of foraging zones. 
Available at:  http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/ctahr2001/InfoCenter/Forages/environment.html
 

3.  Other Plans & Priorities (within Hawaii, but not State or county)

  

Hawaii Conservation Alliance Effective Conservation Project

Outlines objectives to ensure that 90 percent of native ecosystems that existed in 2000 will be effectively managed by the year 2020.

Available at http://hawaiiconservation.org/activities/effective_conservation

Hawaii Island Land Trust (HILT) - HILT operates in the County of Hawaii and lists five types of resource lands in its purpose statement

Kauai Public Land Trust (KPLT) - KPLT operates in the in the County of Kauai and has criteria for acquisitions

Maui Coastal Land Trust (MCLT) - MCLT operates in the County of Maui and has qualifying criteria for lands it seeks to protect

Ocean Resources Management Plan (ORMP)

It represents a significant change in the way we approach natural and cultural resources management in response to public concerns that the existing functional management system is not working effectively.

Available at http://hawaii.gov/dbedt/czm/ormp/ormp.php

 

Pacific Coast Joint Venture (PCJV) - Strategic Plan for Wetland Conservation in Hawaii - a plan for waterbirds and wetlands, designed to to protect, restore, increase, and enhance all types of wetlands, riparian habitats, and associated uplands throughout the Pacific Coast region to benefit birds, fish, and other wildlife.  Protection through acquisition is one of the six major strategies to accomplish this goal.
Available at http://www.pcjv.org/hi-pcjv/publications/HWJVStrategicPlan.pdf

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) - Hawaiian High Islands Ecoregion Plan - web-based biodiversity conservation planning document by the Nature Conservancy of Hawaii and other partner organizations http://www.hawaiiecoregionplan.info/introduction.html


The Trust for Public Land (TPL) - TPL is nation-wide with a regional office in Hawaii and has five Conservation Initiatives


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