Residents protest
Maui land transfer
Ceded land in Lahaina
is to be handed over to the state
LAHAINA » A group of west Maui residents protested yesterday against the transfer of ceded land in Lahaina to the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.
By 10 a.m. yesterday, 20 people had gathered at Wahikuli Park, many wearing T-shirts with the slogan, "Ku I Ka Pono -- Justice for Hawaiians."
Patty Nishiyama, a spokeswoman for the group Na Kupuna O Maui, said her organization felt the land should go to native Hawaiians and residents who live in west Maui.
Under federal law, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is able to grant leases only to people who are 50 percent or more native Hawaiian.
The qualified people do not have to be residents of Maui.
The site, already developed with roads, sidewalks, electricity and water, could provide 304 housing units, the state said.
Nishiyama, who is 45 percent native Hawaiian, said the blood quantum requirement shuts out many who live in west Maui from qualifying for a house.
"What about our people, the ones without the blood quantum, and what about our people who are born and raised in Lahaina?" she asked.
"What about our children and grandchildren? Again, they are left out."
The site is part of the 1.7 million acres of land that belonged to the Hawaiian government and monarchy but was turned over to the state upon statehood to benefit several groups, including native Hawaiians.
DHHL spokesman Lloyd Yonenaka said the department looks forward to using the ceded lands that have been tied up in the courts for years.
"In making this breakthrough, we believe that putting native Hawaiians on these lands will have a positive impact on affordable housing in the state," Yonenaka said.
"We will be creating economic opportunities in terms of construction and, most importantly, providing homes for people who normally would not have had that opportunity."
The state Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii initially planned to build affordable housing at the site known as Villages of Lealii.
But its plan was opposed in court by a number of Hawaiians in 1994, including the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
OHA officials approved the agreement that will allow the DHHL to obtain over 1,800 acres of ceded lands on Maui, the Big Island and Oahu.
