Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 1, Number 1, 1 February 1984 — OHA Supports New Milolii Lease Dates [ARTICLE]

OHA Supports New Milolii Lease Dates

OH A Land and Natural Resources Officer Steve Kuna testified on House Bill No. 2035 beforetheCommitteeon Water, Land Use, Development and Hawaiian Affairs during a hearing held Feb. 10. The bill seeks an extension in the expiration date of leases of families in M ilolii on the Big lsland. The 1982 legislature enacted Act 63 to remedy the circumstances of those families displaced from Hoopuloa to Milolii as a resiilt of a lava flow whieh destroyed their homes in 1926. This relocation was sanctioned by both the county and then territorial governments. Act 63 also authorized the Department of Land and Natural Resources to negotiate and enter into long term residential leases for these families. However, theact further provided that this authority would expire either when the leases were executed and recorded in the Bureau of Conveyances or on Jan. 1, 1985, whiehever occurred first. Kuna said that at this point "we are fully aware DLNR is in the best position to know whether they will meet the deadline of Jan. 1, 1985, in whieh to finalize the leases with the Milolii families." "However, because the leases must comply with federal, state and county laws, it is our view that an extension in the expiration date would be an appropriate action by this committee, and will in no way deter the state's compelling interest to correct the dilemma facing the Milolii families," Kuna concluded. He told the committee that "OHA urges your favorable consideration of this bill."