(BIVN) – On Monday, the Hawaii County Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission gave an approval on a Stewardship Grant Request for Hoʻomalu Kaʻū to be applied to recently purchased makahiki grounds.

The 13-acre Kahua Olohu in Kaʻū was purchased using the county’s 2% percent land fund on November 2016.

Commissioners were wary about certain budget items in the non-profit’s plan that would be funded by the grant, however they were swayed by testimony from Jesse Potter of Pōhāhā I Ka Lani, the group granted funding to malama Koaʻekea at the Waipiʻo Lookout property.

Kahua Olohu was one of several Stewardship Grant Requests taken up by PONC commissioners at the special meeting in Hilo. Final approval will be before the Hawaii County Council.