Abercrombie to Sign Ceded Lands Settlement Bill

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

By Wendy Osher

Governor Neil Abercrombie will sign Senate Bill 2783 into law next week, effectively sealing a $200 million settlement land deal between the state and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

The bill signing ceremony will take place at Washington Place, home of Hawai’i’s last reigning monarch Queen Liliu’okalani.

The measure seeks to resolve OHA’s claims to income and proceeds from ceded lands dating back to 1978. The agreement covers claims of past-due revenues for the period between November 7, 1978 and June 30, 2012.

Under the proposed agreement, the state would transfer land at Kaka’ako Makai to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

The senate bill passed out of the House on Friday and will be signed into law before OHA trustees, congressional delegates, state legislators, and other stakeholders who will participate in the signing event.  The ceremony is set for 10:30 a.m. next Wednesday, April 11, 2012.