Hawaiian Homes Commission approves right of entry and conditional lease for Panaewa renewable energy project

The Hawaiian Homes Commission on Feb. 26 authorized a right of entry permit of up to three years and gave conditional approval for a 25‑year general lease with options to extend to Hawaii Land and Power LLC to pursue a community‑based renewable energy project on approximately 12.75 acres in Panaewa on Hawaii Island.

Commission Chair Carly Watson opened the special meeting and staff from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands’ (DHHL) Land Management Division presented the item seeking authorization to issue a right of entry for due‑diligence activities and conditional approval of a general lease that would allow development, construction, operation, management and maintenance of a renewable energy facility. The submittal described a project that could generate a maximum of 30 megawatts, and stated a potential upper bound of 60 megawatts depending on final design and approvals.

The commission’s recommended actions, as presented by DHHL staff, were: (1) issue a right of entry permit to Hawaii Land and Power LLC for about 12.75 acres for due‑diligence related to development of a community‑based renewable energy project; (2) grant conditional approval of a general lease to HLP LLC for development and operation of the project; (3) make…