Land Board approves final transfer of Waiākea area state-owned lands to Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
Hawaiʻi Board of Land and Natural Resources members during their meeting Friday in Honolulu authorized conveyance of 318.25 acres of state-owned lands in the Waiākea area of Hilo from Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources to Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.
The transfer is part of a joint effort between the state Land Department and Hawaiian Home Lands leadership, with support of Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green, to resolve claims between Aug. 21, 1959, and July 1, 1988 relating to use or alienation of Hawaiian home lands .
Conveyance of the final parcel remains subject to approval by the 9-member Department of Hawaiian Home Lands governing board Hawaiian Homes Commission. Total acreage conveyed, if approved, would exceed the outstanding balance owed to the department.
“Today’s decision by the [Hawaiʻi Board of Land and Natural Resources] represents another important step toward honoring the state’s commitments to Native Hawaiian beneficiaries,” said Gov. Green. “The transfer of these lands will provide opportunities for Native Hawaiian families to establish homes and communities for themselves today and preserve their cultural heritage for future generations.”
State Land Board Chairperson Ryan Kanakaʻole said the transfer has been a long time coming after more than 30 years with the state under obligation to make good on is commitment to Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.
“Department of Land and Natural Resources is committed to working with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to see this matter to completion,” said Kanakaʻole.
The state Land Board on Oct. 28, 1994, authorized identification and transfer of about 16,518 acres of state-owned lands to Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to make the Hawaiian Home Lands Trust whole.
Act 14 was passed 1995 by Hawaiʻi Legislature to fully effectuate the settlement of claims between the department and state, including the transfer of specific lands to resolve claims relating to the use or alienation of Hawaiian home lands.
Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources staff worked during the past several years with Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to identify lands for conveyance in fulfillment of Act 14.
Hawaiʻi Board of Land and Natural Resources during its meeting Aug. 14, 2026, approved conveyance to this Department of Hawaiian Home Lands of this piece of state-owned land, including the NAS Pool facility, in Hilo. (Courtesy Image: Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources)- Hawaiʻi Board of Land and Natural Resources during its meeting Aug. 14, 2026, approved conveyance to this Department of Hawaiian Home Lands of this piece of state-owned land in Hilo. (Courtesy Image: Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources)
The state Land Board on Aug. 14 approved transfer of eight parcels totaling about 334 acres to Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, reducing the outstanding balance owed to the department from about 619.25 acres to 285.25 acres.
Transfer of the Waiākea land in Hilo would provide Department of Hawaiian Home Lands with 33 additional acres.
