Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 20, Number 1, 1 January 2003 — Lease-to-fee bill likely to pass despite outcry [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Lease-to-fee bill likely to pass despite outcry

Following the Honolulu City Council's passage of controversial measures seeking the lease-to-fee conversion of land beneath three condominium projects, Mayor Jeremy Harris has indicated he would allow the bill to pass into law by not vetoing it. The three resolutions allow the city's condemnation of land beneath the Kāhala Beach, Admiral Thomas and Camelot condominiums. If the measures pass, eligible leasehold condo owner-occupants will be able to buy their units in fee. Opponents of the measure say passage will impact the revenuei generating ability of landowners Kamehameha Schools (Kāhala Beach), First United Methodist Church (Admiral Thomas) and the ; Kekuku Family Estate and Sisters ! of Sacred Hearts (Camelot). The issue has been staunchly opposed by Native Hawaiians, who rallied to the defense of the Queen Lili'uokalani Trust when the pro-

posed Bill 53 sought to condemn the trust's Waikiki holdings to allow eight owner-occupants to buy their units in fee. On Dec. 4, hundreds attended a City Council meeting, but the measure was approved narrowly by a 5-4 vote. Supporters of leasehold conversion say that the landowners ean negotiate a fair price for the land. But Native Hawaiian groups have opposed forced conversion measures, saying they will result in a loss of revenue that supports their educational and charity work, and further alienate Hawaiian land from Hawaiian hands. "The understanding that Mayor Hanis will use the politician's 'eop out' by not signing these resolutions, thereby causing them to become law without his signature, was anticipated," said Leroy Akamine, spokesman for the Stop Leasehold Condo Conversions Coalition. ■

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Kamehameha's Anderson Dun argues for federal recognlflon as 'Aiea Hlgh School debaters/second piaee winners Jaclyn Cadaoas and Artz Matute look on.

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