A "rare treasure" of Hawaii island property containing spring-fed pools connected to Kiholo Bay in North Kona has been donated to The Nature Conservancy by the son of hairstyling company founder Paul Mitchell.

The Nature Conservancy announced the gift Tuesday from Angus Mitchell, co-owner and artistic director of the company his father co-founded, John Paul Mitchell Systems.

The 7-acre property, valued at $6.5 million, will be preserved in perpetuity under a plan that includes restoring the pools.

Paul Mitchell bought the property in the late 1980s with the intention of building a dream home but died of cancer in 1989 before realizing his vision.

Angus Mitchell, 41, said in a statement that his father shared his love of Hawaii with him and that this love made it feel right to donate the land his father regarded as the most beautiful spot on earth.

"This parcel was my father’s Eden, his Shangri-La," Angus Mitchell said.

Suzanne Case, executive director of The Nature Conservancy in Hawaii, called the donation a rare treasure and an extraordinary gift to Hawaii.

The property, which abuts Kiholo State Park, is covered by two spring-fed pools inhabited by freshwater hapawai (mollusks) and opae (shrimp). A 200-foot-long auwai, or stone channel, connects the pools to Kiholo Bay, which is rich with marine life that includes green sea turtles that use the inland pools to feed and rest.

Presently the nonprofit group Hui Aloha Kiholo cares for the property and anticipates working closely with The Nature Conservancy to care for and restore the site.