Hamakua land sale draws protest
Small Crowd Rallies In Honokaa Seeking Government Transparency
by Nancy Cook Lauer
West Hawaii Today
Sunday, October 18, 2009 7:27 AM HST
HONOKAA -- The crowd at the Honokaa County Gymnasium was small but enthusiastic Saturday, rallying for greater transparency in the county's land-selling process.
Of top concern to the hundred or so who showed up is Mayor Billy Kenoi's plan to sell thousands of acres of former Hamakua Sugar Co. lands as a way to stopper an $8.2 million hole in the county budget.
The County Council's Finance Committee will consider a bill Tuesday to allow the sale by auction or sealed bid of the first 737 acres of the 3,516 acres the county is preparing to sell.
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On Wednesday's full council agenda is a bill requiring the mayor to bring any potential county land sale greater than 10 acres or $500,000 back to the council, so council members and the public can learn who is buying it and what their intentions are for the land. The bill was inspired by the Hamakua land sales, but it would apply to any land the county sold.
That bill, sponsored by Hamakua County Councilman Dominic Yagong, already suffered defeat in committee. Puna Councilwoman Emily Naeole, Hilo Councilman Donald Ikeda and Ka'u Councilman Guy Enriques voted no. Council Chairman J Yoshimoto and Hilo Councilman Dennis Onishi were absent for the 4-3 vote.
Although more council members voted for than against the measure, five votes were required for a positive recommendation.
Kenoi has threatened to veto the bill if it passes. He said the council already has the power to say which lands will or will not be sold, and it can control the use of the land through the rezoning process. The Hamakua land is currently zoned for agriculture.
At Saturday's Malama Honua Festival, residents enjoyed a free chili and rice lunch as they perused maps of the property that's up for sale, listened to several local bands and sampled farm-fresh coconuts, breadfruit and other goodies.
Several dozen people signed a petition in favor of the transparency bill and a large television screen featured video clips from the committee meeting where Naeole and Enriques explained their opposition.
Several Hamakua residents said they'd like the land to remain in the county's possession as the community begins its Community Development Plan. Ideally, the land could be leased to small farmers to promote the area's agricultural heritage, they say.
"It would be nice if it was affordable for young farmers," said a man identifying himself only as "Coconut Chris."
"If I could afford land, I could grow a lot more food," he said, waving his hand over the pile of fresh goods he'd brought to the festival to share with the others.
"I think the people should be able to see who's buying the land and what their plans are before it's sold," said Ki Teya Belford-Smith, of Ookala.
Yagong said he was happy with the turnout, especially considering how many other events were going on around the island the same day.
"We've got a good mixture of young and old," Yagong said. "We've got a good cross section of the community."
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This is true, it was supposed to be used to help the phase out workers of the plantation to gain some employment - giving back to the people for the use of the land...Mayor Kenoi is at work in his part of selling the lands to make up for the puka in the budget. I DID NOT VOTE FOR KENOI. He may have 'ohana or roots in Hilo but he plays with the big boys as as attorney on 'Oahu before being on the ballot for Mayor. Running mate Pilago was the best choice - po'e forgot that Pilago has hawaiian roots and did a lot of grassroots work for 'Oahu and here on Moku o Keawe. Kenoi is ridding the funds to purchase open space and using it for his budget shortfalls...yet this fund was done by vote of all of the County of Hawaii - we the people wanted this and he is taking it away by his power? Hmmmm.....tell me how much Kenoi is he listening to po'e?
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