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Senate advances bill authorizing community co‑management agreements for DLNR lands with oversight and longer review interval
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Summary
HB 2218, authorizing up to 65‑year community co‑management agreements for DLNR lands to support cultural practice, restoration and visitor management, drew broad support from native Hawaiian organizations and environmental groups; the committee adopted DLNR amendments, clarified that fee‑simple sale is not permitted and changed a proposed five‑year review to ten years before advancing the bill.
HB 2218 would authorize the Department of Land and Natural Resources to enter into community co‑management agreements for purposes including preservation of native Hawaiian practices, restoration of natural resources, management of parking and visitor activities, and educational programs. Dozens of organizations and representatives testified in support.
Melek Koneali of the Hawaii State Youth Commission said the bill would create "meaningful opportunities for place‑based learning" and stood on written testimony in strong support. Shardie Freitas of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs said OHA supported the measure and urged passage.
Olande Momi Fisher (Kua'aina Ulu 'Auamo), Trevor Wickman (Hui Makai/board vice president) and others who helped draft the bill urged removing an administratively burdensome five‑year review requirement. Kua testified the legislation does not allow fee‑simple sales and would cap agreements at 65 years.
DLNR staff (Tomzik and Billy Kinney) told senators the co‑management tool would be used collaboratively and that disposition through a community co‑management agreement would not transfer fee‑simple ownership; the board of land and natural resources (BLNR) retains final approval. Senators asked what role the Legislature should have in oversight of parcels, and DLNR agreed to provide suggested reporting language.
The committee adopted DLNR‑proposed amendments, clarified the disposition language so it would not enable sale of public lands, and changed the five‑year review to a ten‑year review to balance accountability and administrative burden.
Outcome: HB 2218 was passed out of committee with amendments and directed to BLNR oversight processes and further technical cleanup.
