Conservation Properties for Sale in Hawaiʻi 2023

When we launched a website for the Hawaiʻi Life Conservation and Legacy Lands initiative in December 2018 at our annual Worthshop, we hoped to be able to feature dozens of suitable listings, whether our own or those of other brokerages. It turns out that many of these transactions are done in the shadows — meaning they are never listed in the (mostly residential) MLS. And many of the listings I put in this category donʻt necessarily come up if you search our website — or any other real estate website — specifically for “conservation.” Thatʻs why we added the term “legacy lands” — because pretty much every large acreage that changes hands in Hawaiʻi has the potential to make a difference to the resilience of our island communities, even if there is a home on it, and especially if there is active agriculture on it.

Large ranch listings by definition are worthy of the term “conservation and legacy lands” — special protections and incentives may apply.

Conservation and Legacy Lands Properties for Sale in Hawaiʻi 2023

At the moment I have selected seven active listings as conservation listings, out of the 5,689 properties available per our website. Asking prices range from $3,200,000 for a 220-acre parcel in South Kona containing old growth ʻohia forest, to $21,950,000 for a 21.49-acre oceanfront parcel in North Kona, just on the border with South Kohala that is one of the most culturally significant locations in all of Hawaiʻi.

Two other sets of legacy properties are really two paired sets of listings, both in the same ahupuaʻa or land division in North Kohala:

• Kukuipahu Makai offerings include MLS 669267, 5 parcels of oceanfront land for $12.5 million and MLS 668264, 7 neighboring parcels for $12.1 million. While both listings have language about subdividing and creating a gated community, these 375 acres are a portion of a 1,456-acre corridor that has been ranked high on the Countyʻs PONC (open space) purchase list since 2006 — thatʻs 17 years. Could a buyer potentially build a family compound and still donate or sell conservation easements to protect the view planes, critical shoreline fishing areas, and culturally significant archeological sites? Sure.
• Kukuipahu Mauka offerings are part of a spectacular large ranch along Kohala Mountain Road all the way to adjacent to the Maliu Ridge subdivision in Hawi. Each is offered for $5.9 million. MLS 669545 is 615 acres of operating cattle ranch land; MLS 670659 is the 185 acres that could be accessed through Maliu Ridge. For a total of 1,325 acres, these two could be purchased with an adjacent parcel of 525 acres. Agricultural easements could be potentially placed on most of this ranch land. Note that there is also a state-owned parcel surrounding the important cultural site known as Kukuipahu Heiau.

Other Ways to Support Land and Cultural Preservation in Hawaiʻi

Please consider a donation of any amount towards protecting Mahukona and its navigational heiau in perpertuity

For more information about any of these offerings or off-market conservation opportunities, feel free to contact me. And if you just want to make a year-end charitable donation towards conservation of important lands in Hawaiʻi, please consider helping finalize the purchase of Mahukona! In 2020 I wrote about Hawaii Land Trustʻs effort to protect Mahukona. They are only a little over $1 million short of the $20 million acquisition — and even a small amount helps. Here is the Ola Mahukona link to watch a stunning video, sign up for a talk story on the site, or just click to donate. Please comment below and let us know if you did!