Editorial: Enforce Kahana rules

Eviction often seems so harsh, conjuring up thoughts of a greedy heartless landowner kicking out an underdog tenant for no good reason. But as it could apply to Kahana Valley State Park, landowner Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) has been overly patient, while there are solid reasons to remove derelict lessees.

Yes, it’s complicated: Nearly 50 years ago, the state paid $5 million for 5,000-plus acres in Kahana Valley — but soon after, to quell tense land disputes and protests involving the mostly Native Hawaiian residents, the state created a “living park” concept, Ahupua‘a ‘O Kahana State Park. In 1993, DLNR gave 65-year residential leases to more than 30 families; in lieu of rent, they were required to log 25 hours monthly on interpretive Native Hawaiian cultural programs in the valley. A pretty good deal, considering most other Hawaii residents bear hefty monthly mortgages and rents.

But compliance has been appallingly lax, and some tenants have littered beautiful Kahana Valley with junked cars and dilapidated structures. Further, follow-up reporting by Star-Advertiser writer Rob Perez found that 8 of 26 families, who each received a $50,000 low-interest loan from the state to build homes in the park, have not made payments for two to six years.

The state cannot allow this out-of-control situation to persist. All derelict tenants must take greater pride in the aina and respect the pact, as do their diligent neighbors. The state needs to enforce the 25-hour monthly cultural condition for all tenants — perhaps in tandem with an established Hawaiian educational program — but expel those who refuse; other Kahana-connected families surely would agree to the condition, to replace them. The families in arrears on state loan payments should be offered reasonable paths toward recovery, but nonpayments or defaults should bring consequences — as it does to us all.