Protect "Legacy Lands"

By Karen Shishido of Kanu Hawaii

Protect "legacy lands" funding for conservation and affordable housing (HB2885)

State programs and grants supported by the Rental Housing Trust Fund, Land Conservation Fund, and Natural Area Reserve Fund, were established in 2005 by landmark legislation which created a dedicated funding source from a portion of conveyance tax revenues. The programs these funds support have already taken serious cuts of 50%-60% in fiscal year 2009 due to the downturn in real estate market, and need to be protected. HB2885 proposes to entirely suspend conveyance tax funding to the Legacy Land and Rental Housing Trust Fund and cut the Natural Area Resources fund by half for 2011 and 2012. While we understand the severity of the fiscal situation facing our state, the implications of this bill for the future year make it penny-wise and pound foolish.

The programs support construction jobs, help protect watersheds (see a recent Honolulu Magazine article on this point)  and public lands, keep our recreational areas managed and maintained, preempt the spread of invasive species, help environmental education for a new generation of conservationists, and provide affordable housing for the most vulnerable in society. Losses of dedicated, experienced staff as a result of these cuts will mean the end of some programs and the crippling of others for years to come. By 2012, statewide watershed partnership staff may drop from 26 to 10, and invasive species prevention staff may drop from 54 to 0, if funding is curbed.

Many of Hawaii’s cultural, natural, agricultural, historical, and recreational resources are lost when private lands possessing these resources are sold and developed (the video above was produced by Tina Aiu of the Trust for Public Land and showcases some of these resources). The establishment of the Legacy Land Conservation Fund allowed the state to purchase areas of environmental and recreational importance and to leverage key federal and private funding which required a state match. Land conserved by grants from the LLCF include MAO Farms in Lualualei Valley, Oahu, and Malu Aina in Puna on Hawaii Island, which also feature educational and cultural programs that connect people to the land, engender a love for lifelong learning, and a commitment to food security.

The Rental Housing Trust Fund has helped to support affordable housing units that provide decent and affordable homes to our elders, families, and disabled and enable them to remain independent and stable in our communities without becoming homeless. It provides "Equity Gap" low-interest loans or grants to qualified owners and developers constructing affordable housing units. Currently the program has 8 affordable rental project commitments and is already experiencing a cash shortfall. The state Housing Finance and Development Corporation testified that “if 2885 proceeds, we will not be able to finance any additional affordable rental housing projects for the next two fiscal years, despite the high demand and short supply of such units for low income families statewide.”

The budgetary savings gained by suspending or reducing funding to these programs is outweighed by the wide-ranging benefits to Hawaii residents and our local environment that they provide.