The National Wildlife Foundation, Conservation Council for Hawai‘i, Forest Legacy, Pele Defense Fund, Bob Jacobson, Malama O Puna, and DLNR and HVNP biologists are working on getting federal funds from the Forest Legacy Program to buy 25,856 acres of the Wao Kele ‘O Puna, located near Leilani Estates. This land is currently owned by Cambell Estates, and was previously slated for drilling by Puna Geothermal Ventures .

At present it is #1 on the fed's list, so this looks do-able, but though it would help to write to our representatives to provide the public support that is needed. Below is a letter that Rene wrote that you could use as a starting point.

Senator Daniel Inouye, Sen. Daniel Akaka, Rep. Ed Case & Rep. Neil Abercrombie
Prince Kuhio Federal Building
300 Ala Moana Blvd.
Honolulu, Hawai'i 96850 

RE: FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM & WAO KELE O PUNA 

Dear Legislator:: 

Malama O Puna is a Hawai 'i environmental nonprofit and 501(c)(3) with a membership base of about 1,450 households. Since 1982 we and our earlier incarnation, The Puna Outdoor Circle, have been concerned about the eventual fate of the Wao Kele O Puna. 

We believe that the Forest Legacy Program in the FY 2006 Interior Appropriations Bill is an ideal venue to protect this unique forest from development. There are many reasons why the forest needs our protection: 

1. It is the largest expanse of lowland tropical rainforest in the United States;
2. As such, it is a vital watershed for the island of Hawai 'i – especially considering the water needs of a rapidly increasing population and the El Niño droughts;
3. It also moderates the Big Island climate by cooling 25,000 acres with tree cover;
4. The native plant species in the forest, which still have not been completely documented, act as a kipuka to regenerate lava flows and could be a seed source for reforestation efforts elsewhere in the State;
5. It is of sufficient size to provide habitat for our native birds, some of them endangered or even thought to be almost extinct (o‘u).
6. There are ancient Hawaiian burials and other archaeological sites hidden away in the forest;
7. It was only about 12 years ago that the tiny, reclusive Happy Faced Spider was discovered there – there may be other biological treasures just waiting to be found;
8. The forest has been used for many hundreds of years by native Hawaiians gathering plant material for cultural and religious purposes.
9. Time is of the essence to save the forest, because the owner, Campbell Estate, is selling off all its land preparatory to the demise of the trust.
 
Please support the Wao Kele O Puna as a top priority for the Forest Legacy Program in the 2006 fiscal year Interior Appropriations Bill.  

On behalf of all our members, the birds who cannot speak for themselves, and generations yet to come, I thank you for your staunch support. 

Mahalo nui loa, 

René Siracusa
President