Video By Beth Block
October 17, 2026 was the long-awaited celebration of the acquisition of Honolulu Landing, as part of the County of Hawaii PONC (Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission) program. This guarantees that the 364-acre parcel on the Puna coast will be preserved in perpetuity as an undeveloped natural area. First proposed by Emily Naeole in 2006, it was initially rejected by the County Council. Rene Siracusa, Eileen OʻHara and Malama Ō Puna continued the effort, and finally twenty years later, with the support of the lineal descendants of that land, County Council District 4 representative Ashley Kierkiewicz helped to bring the effort to fruition, this time with the full Councilʻs support.
