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Press release
Dolphin Quest, a marine conservation group, opened the
Hilton Waikoloa Village dolphin facility
on the Big Island in 1987.

Waikoloa heads off
eviction from state-
owned land

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Star-Bulletin staff

The Hilton Waikoloa Village responded to the state's offer to settle a ceded lands issue, thus avoiding, for now, possible eviction from portions of the hotel grounds.

Since 1998, the state has attempted to gain compensation for 14 years of back rent owed by the hotel for use of 1.86 acres of state-owned land. Because the land once belonged to the Hawaiian crown and government, 20 percent of the revenue earned would be given to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

When the state's final offer was rejected on Sept. 1, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Land Division staff recommended to the Land Board that the state begin eviction proceedings at yesterday's meeting.

However, the agenda item was withdrawn after Hilton and a title company responded to the settlement offer Thursday.

The Land Division staff will review the proposal and report back to the Land Board within 30 days.