Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 2, Number 3, 1 March 1985 — More on Land Swap [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

More on Land Swap

By Hayden Burgess Trustee, Oahu

On Feb. 8, 1985, Georgi ana Padeken and her staff crossed the short distance between the offīce of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and that of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. In doing so, she accomplished a long step in improving eommunications between the two bodies. She eame with

her attorneys, land managers, appraiser, and others. Although she had to leave early for a prior commitment, her staff people stayed and responded to every question posed by trustees and the public. Miss Padeken even returned to OHA to continue the discussion upon completion of her other business. Her conduct and that of her staff impressed and convinced me of a sincere desire to communicate the facts and the department's belief that the swap of airport lands for Shafter Flats industrial lands was for the good of our native Hawaiian beneficiaries. Although I am not in full agreement with their assessment of the transaction, 1 appreciate and applaud this conduct. Three principle concerns were raised at this meeting; first, the diminution of OHA's ineome base. Shafter Flats presently brings $52,000 annually to OHA. A swap would wipe out that ineome. This result had not been anticipated by DHHL and was not realized until after the swap agreement was reached. No satisfactory solution has yet been found to remedy this loss to OHA. Second, the total annual ineome to native Hawaiians from airports is now almost halved by this swap. DHHL's argument is that if we also add the additional payments for back rents for the airports' use now to be paid as a result of the settlement agreement, the annual ineome will be greater than that now received. I respectfully disagree with the treatment of back rents to inflate the equation on one side without doing likewise on the other side. I am not yet convinced the native Hawaiians will benefit financia!ly. Third, is it wise to trade away precious lands, 209 acres for 13.8 acres, in exchange for an assumed monetary gain? DHHL believes the trade will eventually mean more ineome. lf that is the case, (they argue) it is better to let go of some lands in exchange for an increased ineome whieh ean go to help the disbursement of lands whieh they now have to that long waiting list of native Hawaiians. In essence, (they argue) DHHL is land rich but money poor. This transaction is aimed at bringing matters more into balance. I am not well enough informed on this point to comment.

DHHL disclosed a public information campaign to inform the Hawaiian people of this transaction. I wish them every success in doing that and encourage an immediate start. We are all very concerned vvith the management of one of our precious assets. Before this transaction is finalized, the Department of the Interior must consent. Our readers' opinions, I'm sure, will be well received by that office in making its determination. I hope too that the DHHL, in cooperation with OHA, will begin a public campaign to address the many other issues raised and results so far obtained from the State-Federal Task Force on Hawaiian Home Lands.