Full Senate to Vote on State Land Acquisition at Kapua Bay

Hawaii State Legislature photo.

The full Senate will conduct a final vote on Senate Bill 3071 on Tuesday. The Bill calls for the state to purchase land at Kapua in South Kona.

State Senator Gilbert Kahele signed the bill, along with two others, on Jan. 26, hours before passing away. The bill was important to the late Senator as it pertained to an area of the island in which he grew up.

Senate officials say Senator Kahele wanted to ensure that the site was protected from development and preserved for future generations.

The bill proposes that the Department of Land and Natural Resources, in consultation with the Trust for Public Land, engage in negotiations to acquire certain land located in the area.

A total of four parcels covering 7,780 acres of land with the Agricultural and Conservation State Land Use Districts is covered in the proposed acquisition. Two parcels are adjacent to Manuka Natural Area Reserve.

Funds would be appropriated to conduct an environmental study of the makai lands and the DLNR would be directed to attempt to reach an agreement for acquisition of the lands by Dec. 31.

On Feb. 5, the bill passed the second reading.