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"It is highly appropriate that we take this day to commemorate what has been accomplished together, not for just us here and now, but for the generations ahead," said Haunani Apoliona, Chair of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees. "We are here to rededicate this ‘äina and focus ourselves on the work ahead."

Generations of Native Hawaiians have practiced traditional hunting, gathering and religious customs at Wao Kele O Puna, the last large intact lowland rainforest in the state.

"At Wao Kele o Puna, its richness is already apparent.  It stands as one of Hawaii’s greatest shrines that connects not only the land to native people but native people to all living things. The sound we hear is the thread that ties everything together," said Reed Holderman, Regional Director of The Trust for Public Land.

The ceremony marks a new beginning for Wao Kele O Puna, where geothermal development was once planned and where neighbors, Native Hawaiians and environmentalists – mainly through the efforts of the Pele Defense Fund -- fought for the rainforest’s protection at the geothermal development site, in the courts and by working collaboratively with other partners to acquire the property.

"Today's celebration of Wao Kele O Puna culminates more than two decades of perseverance and commitment by public and private partners to protect a significant natural and cultural resource," Gov. Linda Lingle said. "Preserving native forests like Wao Kele O Puna and other environmental treasures around our state will help enhance the quality of life in Hawai'i for future generations."

Also present today was U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye who secured $3.35 million in federal Forest Legacy funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, funding used toward the $3.65 million purchase of the property. OHA acquired title to the land last year after paying the difference. Wao Kele O Puna is the first ceded land to be returned to a representative of the Hawaiian people.

"Let us rededicate ourselves to this joint mission, no longer as opposing parties, but now as stewards, as working hands, respectful of kuleana, and unified by common direction," OHA Chair Apoliona said.

For a full gallery of images from the event, please visit:  http://tinyurl.com/2r8snm

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Wao Kele O Puna Fact Sheet

Q. Who are the partners?

• Office of Hawaiian Affairs is sole titleholder of the 25,856-acre Wao Kele O Puna. Terms of the acquisition were worked out by OHA’s Land Management Division.

• The State Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs have entered into a 10-year memorandum of agreement to manage and maintain the acreage of Wao Kele O Puna.  Under this arrangement, DLNR’s designation of the property as a forest reserve will provide legal protection of the land for cultural, natural resource and open space value.

• The Trust for Public Land secured public funding to convey the property of Wao Kele O Puna from private landowner The Estate of James Campbell to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.  TPL is a national, nonprofit organization that conserves land for community uses in perpetuity.

• The Pele Defense Fund was instrumental in halting geothermal development in the forest. PDF also forged a partnership with the Trust for Public Land. A grassroots organization, PDF is active in defending native Hawaiian culture and rights.

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Legacy Program provided matching grant funds in the amount of $3.35 million that enabled OHA’s acquisition of Wao Kele O Puna. The federal Forest Legacy Program supports state efforts to protect environmentally sensitive forest lands.

• U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye played a key role in protecting Wao Kele O Puna by helping to secure the $3.35 million in federal Forest Legacy funding to acquire the land.

• Campbell Estate owned Wao Kele O Puna and put the property up for sale in 2001.

Q: What events led to the return of Wao Kele O Puna to a representative of Native Hawaiians?

• 1893 At the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, Wao Kele O Puna title is taken by the Revolutionary government.

• 1898 Wao Kele O Puna is ceded to the United States.

• 1959 Wao Kele O Puna is transferred to the State of Hawai‘i.

• 1982 Campbell Estate receives state approval for a geothermal development to be built on conservation district land on the mauka border of Wao Kele.

• 1983 Part of Wao Kele O Puna, in recognition of its natural resources, is designated a Natural Area Reserve.

• 1985 Through a state-approved land swap, Campbell Estate receives Wao Kele O Puna property as a site for a geothermal development.

• 1985-2002 Pele Defense Fund leads community and native Hawaiian opposition to geothermal project. The organization files a series of lawsuits to block development in Wao Kele O Puna.

• 1988: Campbell Estate contracts with developer to drill geothermal “test wells” at Wao Kele. Work begins.

• 1994:  Geothermal developer abandons Wao Kele project.

• 2001 Campbell Estate announces intent to sell Wao Kele O Puna

• 2002 Pele Defense Fund contacts Trust for Public Land with intent to acquire Wao Kele for cultural and conservation purposes.

• 2004 Trust for Public Land begins to work with state Department of Land and Natural Resources to preserve Wao Kele as forest reserve. The Forestry Legacy program under the U.S. Department of Agriculture assesses possibility of funding conveyance of Wao Kele to the state by covering most of Campbell Estate’s purchase price of $3.65 million.

• 2005 Office of Hawaiian Affairs offers to provide gap funding to take title to the land for cultural and conservation purposes.

• 2006 Office of Hawaiian Affairs and State Department of Land and Natural Resources enter into Memorandum of Agreement to co-manage the property of Wao Kele O Puna. Trust for Public Land completes conveyance of Wao Kele from Campbell Estate to Office of Hawaiian Affairs as sole titleholder of property.

• 2007 Rededication ceremony at Wao Kele O Puna marks first time that ceded lands have been returned to an organization representing native Hawaiians.

Q: How does OHA’s acquisition and the intended conservation of Wao Kele O Puna affect the people of Hawai‘i?

• The two parcels of land comprising the 25,856 acres of Wao Kele O Puna make up the last large intact lowland rainforest in the state.

• Wao Kele O Puna is the habitat of many native species. Primary plant species include ‘ohi‘a, häpu‘u fern,‘ie‘ie vine, hala, köpiko and many other rarer species.  Birds include ‘io (Hawaiian hawk), ope‘ape‘a (Hawaiian bat), ‘apapane and ‘amakihi honeycreepers.  This wealth of indigenous plants and animals acts as a buffer zone to the colonization of invasive species which have already crowded other Hawai‘i Island lands.

• Wao Kele O Puna’s cultural importance lies in the gathering of resources that the land offers for traditional Hawaiian practices.  Many of the ferns, plants and vines have been used by generations of Hawaiians for their healing properties.   Many of the natural resources are seen by Hawaiians as kinolau, the physical form of a spiritual presence.

• Located just 20 miles from Hawai‘i Island’s most urbanized city of Hilo, Wao Kele O Puna provides the community with open space that can be used for recreation and wildlife watching.