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Posted: Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 4:33 AM HST

Big Island ranch family donates easement

By Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) — A Big Island ranch family has donated a conservation easement on 4,500 acres of its property to the Nature Conservancy. David and Josephine DeLuz say they want to preserve the rural character of the Hamakua Coast. The DeLuzes have owned and operated the 10,200-acre Kukaiau Ranch for the past 15 years, but they say they're concerned about what might happen to the property once they die. The ranch's agricultural zoning designation allows the ranch to be divided into 40-acre lots and sold, with one house built on each lot. The conservation easement ensures that the land can't be broken up and developed, even if it is eventually sold. The agreement allows the DeLuzes to retain ownership of the land. (Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved)