Land Acquisition Grant

The Land Acquisition Grant is administered through the Legacy Land Conservation Program of the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. The program supports proposed acquisitions of land or interests in land for conservation purposes. The Fiscal Year 2027 process uses a multi-stage application and consultation structure involving Legacy Land staff, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, the Agribusiness Development Corporation, and the Legacy Land Conservation Commission. The application period opens August 24, 2026, and applicants begin by requesting access through the Grant Application Sign-up Form. Applicants first complete the Agency Consultation Form, Form 2a. This form provides information needed by the consulting agencies to review the proposed acquisition and includes narratives on public benefits, long-term management, and location, landscape, and resource values, with a 2,500-character limit for each narrative. Applicants also provide parcel information, including Tax Map Key numbers, existing land use and encumbrances, and anticipated future land use and encumbrances. Maps and photos are uploaded separately to the application's Maps and Photos subfolder, with a maximum of four maps and five photos. The Agency Consultation Form must be submitted between August 24 and September 14, 2026. The Full Application is due November 2, 2026. It contains Forms 1 through 8. Form 1 provides certification and the application package checklist and requires a wet signature from an authorized representative. Form 2b collects applicant contact information, property location and size, acquisition type, conservation easement information when applicable, and the parcel table. Forms 3 and 4 address transaction costs and matching funds. Forms 5 through 8 contain narrative sections covering land acquisition purposes, importance and threats, cultural and historical significance, and stewardship and management. The land acquisition purposes form addresses nine resource values, while the remaining narrative sections generally permit up to 3,000 characters per response as specified in the application. Grant and matching-fund accounting must comply with the applicable Hawaii Administrative Rules. Matching funds for county and nonprofit applicants must equal at least 25 percent of total estimated transaction costs. Eligible matching contributions may include qualifying acquisition-related attorney fees, land value donations, conservation easement value when properly appraised and approved, and qualifying in-kind contributions. Evidence supporting the source and expenditure of matching funds is required. Donated services must come from skilled professionals, and in-kind contributions must be integral and necessary to the approved project. If a grant is awarded, appraisal and appraisal review reports must comply with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice and receive Department approval before grant funds are distributed. The Full Application also requires a table of contents and a signed Willing Seller Letter. Nonprofit applicants must provide an IRS nonprofit determination letter or other acceptable evidence of nonprofit status and the organization's land conservation mission statement. A Willing Holder Letter is required when applicable for a proposed conservation easement holder. Applicants may submit an estimate or summary of fair market value and may provide reports, studies, surveys, and other explanatory materials that help the Commission understand the property, its resource values, and the long-term management plan. Applicants must compile the Full Application as a single PDF after completing the required forms and uploading the supporting documents and images to the designated SharePoint folders. After the Full Application deadline, the Legacy Land Conservation Commission establishes Permitted Interaction Groups. Applicant consultation with those groups is tentatively scheduled from November 12, 2026 through January 19, 2027. Applicants then revise their materials as needed and submit supplemental materials and the Final Application by January 22, 2027, subject to the tentative schedule. Commission reporting is tentatively scheduled for February 1, 2027, followed by review, ranking, and recommendations during February 9 through February 11, 2027. Legislative consultation is expected in February and March 2027, Board of Land and Natural Resources approval is anticipated in April 2027, Governor approval is anticipated in May 2027, and approved Fiscal Year 2027 funds are expected to be encumbered in June 2027. Program assistance is available at legacyland@hawaii.gov or 808.586.0921.

Submit Form 2a as early as possible; prepare responses offline before pasting them into the forms; use Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Acrobat Reader so Forms 3 and 4 calculate correctly; carry Form 2a parcel data into Form 2b and update all corrections and agency-consultation results; ensure required maps and photos are uploaded separately with captions; verify Form 3 percentage columns total 100%, Form 3 TOTAL equals Form 4 TETC, and the required match percentage is met