Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Comments from Participants

(as of Thursday July 12, 2007)


  • Mission versus Vision:

    • Your organization's vision is all about what is possible, all about that potential. The mission is what it takes to make that vision come true.

      • Karen Shishido


  • Mission Statement

    • Need to be very clear mission statement.

      • Laure Dillon

    • Should mission statement/vision statement acknowldge WHY an Oahu Land Trust is needed? I noted that the KPLT mission statement does not have this; it states "seeks solutions for land conservation" but not solutions to what problem. I guess it depends on what degree of urgency we want to impart or assumptions we make about public awareness.

I like the phrase "community-based" as included by HILT in their mission statement.

I liked 'Ike 'Aina (T. Lechenko's) response on question of what projects currently are pending as part of the mission I would like to see OLT have. "(R)eturn the spirit of the land for traditional practices. Heal the land, heal the people. Empower communities for care and management." Though this paragraph from 'Ike 'Aina on " purposes" (p.6 Hawaiian Land Trust Background Information Compilation) is rather long, I like all that it encompasses:

A. Preserving, protecting, and restoring land for cultural, historic, ecological, educational, recreational, agricultural, scientific, and scenic or open space purposes by acquiring real property in the Hawaiian Islands or partial interests therein, including conservation easements as defined by the laws of Hawaii, to protect the physical environment, cultural resources and public access thereto, for ecological and aesthetic, purposes and to perpetuate cultural resources and practices for the benefit of the public.

I realize that many donors, board members and volunteers will be interested in the open space, aesthetic and recreational value of land conservation. This is probably the most compelling argument for fundraising purposes. I am personally equally or more interested in intrinsic value of protecting habitats/lands of ecological value, and using land trust as vehicle to protect and facilitate cultural and traditional practices on the land.

Mission statement should include action phrases on more specific tools and vehicles and emphasize community basis and working via partnerships.

Should mission statement/vision statement acknowldge WHY an Oahu Land Trust is needed? I noted that the KPLT mission statement does not have this; it states "seeks solutions for land conservation" but not solutions to what problem. I guess it depends on what degree of urgency we want to impart or assumptions we make about public awareness.

      • Karen Shishido

    • Include the following components in the LT mission statement or bylaws.

      Protecting and managing the resources of the land of the Island of Oahu and the seas of the state Hawaii.

      To assist appropriate public agencies in their missions to assure, the public access, the protection and conservation of resources, and the sustainable uses of the public lands and waters of the State of Hawaii, City and County of Honolulu, and all federal agencies.

      To work with private property owners and their agents for protection, conservation, and sustainable development goals.

      To provide assistance on issues relating to best management practices on privately held lands, and other goals of responsible stewardship.

      I suggest we should include the statement in the bylaws and I also think we should seriously consider that eventually that whatever we are building will most likely become the coordinating group for all the land trusts in Hawaii, and plan accordingly.

      The Oahu Land and Ocean trust will also cooperate with other organizations of similar public interest and conservation goals in the State of Hawaii and elsewhere.

      • Leon Watson

  • Additional examples of LT Missions from the continent:

    • The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy

      • The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy is committed to preserving the Sonoran Desert and its Mountains for the benefit of this and all future generations.

    • The Chelan-Douglas Land Trust

      • The Chelan-Douglas Land Trust is dedicated to helping people preserve and enhance the rich diversity of landscapes and lifestyles in our region for the benefit of present and future generations.

    • Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT)

      • Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT) is a 27 year old private, nonprofit, land conservation organization that protects farmland and ranchland in Marin County by acquiring agricultural conservation easements in voluntary transactions with landowners.

    • Mississippi Land Trust

      • The Mississippi Land Trust, a charitable, 501(c)(3) organization, works only with private, willing landowners to find ways to preserve Mississippi's rich history, prairies, red clay hills, bottomlands and bayous, coastal savannas, longleaf pine forests and scenic rivers and streams.

      • http://www.mississippilandtrust.org/whoarewe.html

    • West Virginia Land Trust

      • Founded in 1995, the West Virginia Land Trust is a statewide nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to protecting the rural and wildlands that give West Virginia its distinctive character, to preserving the state's historic sites and urban greenspaces, to assisting the preservation goals of local land trusts, and to fostering an appreciation and stewardship of West Virginia's environment…. Each director brings unique perspective, knowledge, and experience to the organization. Our directors are geographically diverse, and represent farmland preservation, cave conservancy, the practice of law, fiscal management, and professional experience at the local, state, and national levels in conservation work.

      • http://www.wvlandtrust.org/aboutus.html

    • New Mexico Land Conservancy

      • The New Mexico Land Conservancy is a state-wide, non-profit land trust organization established in 2002 to help preserve New Mexico's precious land heritage. We work to protect significant wildlife habitat, productive agricultural land and scenic open space throughout the state.

      • http://www.nmlandconservancy.org/

    • Vermont Land Trust

      • The Vermont Land Trust is a nonprofit organization that works with individuals, organizations, and communities to conserve land for the future of Vermont.

  • Vision

    • As the population and development pressures increase on O'ahu, we commit to acquire and preserve land to sustain natural habitat and recreational, scenic, traditional cultural and educational uses for present and future generations.

      • Karen Shishido

  • Organization Name

    • I heard the arguments for calling it a "land and Ocean trust" or doing away with the word "Trust" entirely; however I think the word is important in that it links the organization to a strong, larger (Land Trust) movement elsewhere; the word connotes holding something for the future, and has a generally positive ring. I think misunderstandings about differences between land trust and financial trusts can easily be corrected with basic outreach. I don't advocate putting the word "ocean" in because as far as I can tell, coastal lands have been actively included in land trusts, but the word "ocean" may be misleading since the formalities of state and federal jurisdiction etc. Hawaii’s designated coastal zone includes all land areas of the state and extends seaward three miles to the limit of the state’s jurisdiction.

      • Karen Shishido

    • I suggest we look at another name soon. Decide whether we want to use the moniker land trust at all, or Conservancy, or invent our own name. Mauka Makai is a better ecological basis than just mentioning the land. protecting the ocean resources and the NW Hawaiian Islands is also under our legal mandate and purview and ocean needs should be seriously considered.

      • Leon Watson

    • Possible names that people were mentioning in past meetings:

      • Oahu Land and Ocean Trust

      • Hawaii Land and Ocean Conservancy-Oahu

      • Oahu Mauka Makai Conservancy

      • Malama Oahu

    • Previous Suggestions

      • Avoid "trust" to avoid confusion with Alii Trusts

      • Do not end with the word "trust" because IRS thinks you are a bank

    • Most Common LT Terms:

      • Land Trust, Conservancy, or Foundation

    • Examples from Around the Country

      • Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation

      • Open Space Institute

      • Northeast Wilderness Trust

      • California Rangeland Trust

      • Center for Natural Lands Management

      • Golden State Land Conservancy

      • North American Land Trust

      • Pacific Forest Trust

      • Save the Redwoods League

      • Monterey County Agricultural and Historical Land Conservancy

      • Utah Open Lands Conservation Association

      • Friends of Alta

      • Great Basin Land and Water Trust

      • Swaner Nature Preserve

      • The Prairie Enthusiasts

      • Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation

      • Center for Natural Lands Management

      • Save Habitat and Diversity of Wetlands Organization

      • Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland

      • Tapteal Greenway


  • Relationship with Local Communities

    • The Ko`olau Foundation favors developing an `Aha Council for the island of O`ahu, then Moku Councils for each moku on O`ahu, then ahupua`a councils (or smaller `aha councils) for governing community land trusts in a given area. For example, we wish to establish a community land trust in Ha`iku Valley, ahupua`a of He`eia. We feel that we should be empowered to set policy and direction for that `aina, as would any other community pursuing a land trust elsewhere. Ideally, connection with that ahupua`a would give it a grounded, cultural foundation. The islandwide `Aha Council would set the broad, general policies, with the smaller `aha councils setting more personalized policies and directions (i.e., use, access, management, etc.) for the localized land trust `aina.

      • Mahealani Cypher, Ko`olau Foundation


  • Other Comments

    • Hawaiian participation and leadership are essential so that there is trust and support instead of opposition.

      • Laure Dillon

    • Engage the community in identifying priorities, providing financial support (as discussed in previous LT meeting, eventually want many small donors = more grassroots support and engagement)

Follow LTA guidelines and seek accreditation while acknowledging cultural and environmental uniqueness of Hawaii's lands which may require novel approaches

Learn about what traditional, cultural Native Hawaiian uses/users exist for a given area of land of interest and work from there; perhaps not necessarily our role to "connect people to the land"? (see MCLT) Yes, in the sense of enhancing access and education where appropriate; but strong cultural connections already exist and it's probably not the place of LT to be cultural facilitator. -->underscore role of local, community partnerships?

      • Karen Shishido

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