The Great Hawaiian Land Trust Merger

This story begins with protecting land. It all started two years ago with a conversation among land trusts in Hawaii that wanted to figure out a way to better protect their land through collaboration. It was obvious that this level of collaboration would require someone skilled, strategic and savvy in land trust mergers to step in and facilitate the large undertaking. Luckily, Marc Smiley and the team at Decisions Decisions were available and ready to help.

The goal: To bring together four large land trusts “in an effort to take a major strategic step toward more comprehensive conservation, more permanent protection, and more engaged and committed communities.”

The challenge: To create a single, high-capacity organization that partners with high-profile community leaders, supports local leadership around conservation projects, and establishes strong support among donors at every level.

The outcome: The four Hawaiian land trusts – Hawaii Island Land Trust, Kauai Public Land Trust, Maui Coastal Land Trust, and Oahu Land Trust – that started a journey two years ago began a new chapter when they voted to merge on Thursday, June 17, 2010. The new collective land trust that emerged is most certainly destined to become of the most effective statewide land trusts in the country and will protect some of the most sacred places on the earth.

The merger was not only an extraordinary undertaking, but also a sacred journey. Decisions Decisions was privileged to be a part of it. And although the merger is now complete, Marc and his team at D2 will continue to provide guidance to the new statewide land trust to help ensure a successful future, a future that D2 considers to be critical to preserving the revered lands of Hawaii.