Settlement on Ceded Lands Poised for Full Senate Vote

Kaka'ako Makai parcels as shown in a power point presentation provided by OHA.

By Wendy Osher

***An UPDATE has since been  published at the following direct LINK.

The senate is expected to take a floor vote today on ceded lands legislation.

The $200 million settlement involves the proposed conveyance of land at Kaka’ako Makai to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

The deal seeks to resolve disputed claims for the period from November 7, 1978 through June 30, 2012.

The measure is among 381 bills to be heard beginning at 9:30 a.m. If approved by the Senate, SB2783 would move to the House for consideration.

The Senate bill was passed out of the Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means, without amendments last Friday.

“It was a landmark decision for the committees to pass the bill,” said Senator J. Kalani English of Maui, who serves as a member of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.  “This has been a long time coming and it is the first step in the right direction,” he said.

Sen. English thanked Governor Abercrombie, OHA Chair Collette MAchado and Attorney General David Louie for their efforts in reaching the agreement saying, “I am satisfied we are moving forward with this bill to better the conditions of native Hawaiians, and we at a certain point, must trust the work of OHA and the administration in reaching this settlement.”