State to give OHA Kakaako land in ceded lands settlement
20111116-13 CTY CEDED LANDS Gov. Abercrombie announced at a new conference settlement discussions between state and OHA re ceded lands. Subject to legislative approval, all claims relating to OHA's share of ceded land receipts under under article XII, sections 4 and 6 of the State Constitution from Nov. 7, 1978 to July 1, 2012. With the governor are Bill Meheula (attorney for OHA), Colette Machado (OHA chairperson) and David Louie (attorney general). (l-r) Meheula, Abercrombie, Machado, Louie. PHOTO BY DENNIS ODA. NOV. 16, 2011.
The state and Office of Hawaiian Affairs are in discussions on an agreement to settle past due amounts owed to OHA from ceded lands payments.
The agreement, which would be subject to public meetings and legislative approval, would involve the state offering land in Kakaako to OHA.
Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced the talks on the "agreement in principle" at a news conference today in his office with OHA Chairwoman Colette Machado.
Under terms of the settlement, the state and OHA would agree that $200 million represents a reasonable compromise to settle disputed claims, the governor’s office said in a news release. To satisfy the $200 million claim, the state is conveying "contiguous and adjacent parcels in Kakaako Makai" near Waterfront Park, including Fisherman’s Wharf. Land would continue to to remain under the authority of the Hawaii Communty Development Authority and will continue to be under HCDA’s rules and zoning.
In exchange, OHA will "release, waive and discharge and and all claims that it, and any other person or entity, might make to ceded lands receipts," the news release said.
