Senator expects to OK OHA settlement today

Lawmakers are poised to advance the Abercrombie administration’s proposed ceded lands settlement with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

The proposed settlement, which requires legislative approval, would transfer about 25 acres in Kakaako valued at $200 million to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to settle long-standing ceded lands claims.

The Senate’s Hawaiian Affairs and Water, Land and Housing committees heard the proposal last week but deferred action after concerns were raised over the issue of entitlements, or development rights to the properties.

Under terms of the proposed settlement, OHA would have ownership of the land and the ability to devise a master plan, but development would remain subject to the rules and zoning of the Hawaii Community Development Authority, an agency created in 1978 to manage the development of Kakaako.

State Sen. Malama Solo­mon (D, Hilo-Hono­kaa), the Water, Land and Housing Committee vice chairwoman, voiced concern over OHA not receiving entitlements to the land. Hawaiians, she said, should have the ability to determine on their own what to do with the parcels once they are turned over. State Sen. Brickwood Galu­te­ria (D, Downtown-Waikiki) had said committee members would study the issue before making any decision.

The two Senate committees deferred action until today.

"We intend to pass it out clean this coming Monday. That’s our intention," Galu­te­ria, Senate majority leader and chairman of the Hawaiian Affairs Committee, said Friday. "Nothing’s really developed since we last talked."

House lawmakers are awaiting the Senate version of the bill before acting on the settlement.

Once the bill crosses over, the House could accept the Senate version of the bill, make changes or advance its own version of the measure.

"We’re going to take a look at what the Senate is going to do, because I know there’s been some discussion — and I don’t want to speak for them — on making some changes to the governor’s bill as submitted," said Rep. Pono Chong (D, Maunawili-Kaneohe), the House majority leader. "We want to see what their intentions are first."

Both chambers would have to agree on the same version of the bill for it to be approved.