After much political wrangling, the state Legislature has hammered out a bill that provides a one-time process for leasing cabins and lots at Koke‘e and Waimea Canyon state parks. A conference committee on Thursday in Honolulu resolved the differences between
After much political wrangling, the state Legislature has hammered out a bill that provides a one-time process for leasing cabins and lots at Koke‘e and Waimea Canyon state parks.
A conference committee on Thursday in Honolulu resolved the differences between the two chambers’ versions of House Bill 2872.
The House is expected to sign off on the compromise bill Tuesday, said state Rep. Roland Sagum, D-16th District.
The controversial legislation bore a drastic evolution after it crossed over to the Senate in early March, but the Kaua‘i lawmaker said the latest draft contains some protective provisions for local residents who have leased cabins for decades at the two Westside parks.
The original House version was a directive to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to extend its recreational-residence use leases in Koke‘e and Waimea Canyon state parks for five years at a percent increase.
The Senate’s second draft discarded the extension and instead allowed the DLNR to use the process of public auction to lease the lands.
The conference committee’s version makes the decision for the DLNR, Sagum said. It requires the Board of Land and Natural Resources to first “negotiate directly with all existing leaseholders of recreation-residence use leases in locations at state parks or state forest reserves in counties with a population of less than 100,000, for lease renewals.”
Although the description of this draft fails to refer directly to Waimea Canyon and Koke‘e state parks, Sagum said Kaua‘i is the only county that falls under the prescribed population requirement.
The latest draft also requires the renegotiated leases to be for a period not less than 20 years and based on market rates.
If the current leaseholder fails to agree to the renegotiated lease, it expires on Dec. 31 and shall be auctioned by the board.
There is a mix of some 25 vacant cabins and lots that will be auctioned off in the initial go-round, Sagum said.
The nice thing about the legislation is that it provides Kaua‘i residents the first opportunity to obtain the leases, he added.
The process then offers remaining available leases at auction to bidders who are state residents and finally to nonresidents.
The state has granted permits for recreational-residences in Koke‘e and Waimea canyon state parks for decades, according to the original House bill.
Currently, there are some 140 recreational-residence use leases in the two popular parks.
The Board of Land and Natural Resources directed the DLNR to conduct a public auction of all its recreation-residence use leases in Koke‘e and Waimea Canyon state parks following their expiration in December 2006.
Many of the existing lessees have made substantial improvements on their leased lots, some having done so over generations, and they do not want to abandon these improvements, the legislation states.
The issue of a public auction became contentious enough that a recent decision was made to delay the auction indefinitely, pending the conclusion of lawsuits and public input.
The decision resulted in the state issuing month-to-month tenancy of the recreational residences to the lessees. But the uncertainty of the leaseholders’ length of tenancy has led to the deferral of maintenance on the recreational cabins, many of which are historic and an irreplaceable part of the cultural landscape of the parks, the original House bill states.
Sagum said the conference committee’s draft was the result of a “huge collaboration” among legislators, DLNR staff, the governor and the county.
“It was a successful partnership and example of everyone working together,” he said.
• Nathan Eagle, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or neagle@kauaipubco.com
