Kahana families spared eviction

The state won't evict six Hawaiian families from Kahana Valley as planned and will work with the Legislature to resolve the families' situation, state Rep. Colleen Meyer said yesterday.

Meyer (R, Laie-Kahaluu) said Department of Land and Natural Resources Director Laura Thielen would announce the decision tomorrow.

“;She's not going to carry on with trying to evict them and will make that clear,”; Meyer said. “;She wants to work with the families to resolve long-standing issues.”;

Deborah Ward, a department spokeswoman, said only that the state has no current plans to carry out an eviction order.

State senators, led by Senate President Colleen Hanabusa (D, Nanakuli-Makua) and Sen. Clayton Hee (D, Kahuku-Kaneohe), last week called on Thielen to suspend any eviction plans while lawmakers worked on legislation to resolve the situation.

The six families are living in Ahupuaa O Kahana State Park, a “;living park”; that's open to the public but is also home to families who have lived on the land for several generations. The families do not have leases, but their supporters say they have rightful ancestral claims to live on the land just like 31 other families that have leases.

The department ordered the evictions after state Attorney General Mark Bennett said the state has no authority to issue new leases.

The eviction notice instructed the families to vacate their homes by Oct. 20, but the department held off after the families and lawmakers protested.

Lena Soliven, who is among 30 people threatened with eviction and is a spokeswoman for the families, said yesterday that the families hadn't been informed of any decision by the state regarding their case.

EPA honors Kauai council's effort

The federal Environmental Protection Agency has recognized Kauai homesteaders for their work in addressing water quality and waste management, the agency has announced.

The Anahola Homesteaders Council received an award for outstanding leadership in improving community environmental quality as part of the agency's first annual Environmental Justice Achievement Awards.

The council is working on improving water quality in the Anahola rivers and streams and addressing the need for proper solid-waste management. It focuses on empowering native Hawaiians through collaborative partnerships, community involvement, and environmental protection in the Anahola community, agency officials said.

Anahola resident Jimmy Torio was specifically honored for “;making Anahola a safer place to live, work and play,”; said Wayne Nastri, the EPA's Administrator for the Pacific Southwest region, in a press release.

The awards honor community organizations, committees, academic institutions and others for accomplishments in addressing environmental justice issues, from reducing children's pesticide exposure in child-care facilities to helping hurricane-displaced communities address environmental contamination, officials said.

City office reopens at Fort Street

The Fort Street Satellite City Hall reopened for full service yesterday following a one-month closure for emergency roof repairs.

The satellite office is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at 1000 Fort Street Mall.

Customers may obtain driver license renewals; pay water and property tax bills; and obtain permits for disabled-parking permits, picnics and campaigns, among other services.

Information about all satellite offices is available online at www.honolulu.gov/csd/satellite/.

Or call Dana Takahara-Dias, director of Department of Customer Services, at 768-3392.