OHA asks court to force legislation on revenue

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs asked the state Supreme Court yesterday to require the Legislature to address OHA's claims to $200 million in public land trust revenues that are overdue.

OHA said it and the administration of Gov. Linda Lingle made an agreement in 2008 that resolved the claims on revenue for the state's use of former Hawaiian kingdom lands. The so-called ceded lands have been put to a number of uses, including airports, hospitals and Hawaii Housing Authority projects.

Court decisions in 2001 and 2006 mandated the Legislature deal with the claims, OHA said, and its proposals submitted during the 2008, 2009 and 2010 legislative sessions were rejected.

“;As a means of last resort, OHA reluctantly files this petition,”; said OHA Chief Executive Officer Clyde Namuo. “;OHA has a fiduciary duty to its beneficiaries and must move forward to resolve these past-due claims that are necessary to serving the best interests of native Hawaiians.

House Majority Leader Blake Oshiro (D, Aiea-Halawa) said it was unfortunate OHA felt it needed to go to the Supreme Court.

“;The Legislature has been trying to address the issue,”; he said, but he added that failure to reach agreement on specific terms has stalled passage of legislation.

Senate President Colleen Hanabusa said she had not yet read the petition, but believes the issue should be resolved by negotiations among OHA, the governor and lawmakers.

Abercrombie throws support to Hanabusa

Senate President Colleen Hanabusa won some new support in her campaign for Congress.

Former U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, who resigned the seat to run for governor, says he hopes Hanabusa wins the race against Republican Rep. Charles Djou.

“;She will be a great partner to Mazie Hirono, our entire congressional delegation and President Obama,”; Abercrombie said.

During the race to fill our the remaining seven months of his congressional term, Abercrombie had not made an endorsement.

Ed Case, a former Democratic congressional representative for Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District, ran in the 1st District contest but came in third.

Democrats had expected a heated primary race between Case and Hanabusa until Case pulled out of the campaign during the weekend.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Mo-ped driver dies in crash with truck

A 57-year-old mo-ped driver died yesterday afternoon after he was hit by a pickup truck in Mountain View on the Big Island.

According to the pickup truck driver and witnesses, the mo-ped driver, a Glenwood man, was headed north on the shoulder of Highway 11 when he suddenly pulled out onto the highway and was struck by a 2005 Ford Sport Trac, police said.

The mo-ped driver died at the scene of the accident, which occurred at about 2:45 p.m., police said. He was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 4:55 p.m., police said.

The 59-year-old man driving the pickup truck, also from Glenwood, was not injured, police said.