HI HR158

Urges the State of Hawaii, City and County of Honolulu, and Castle & Cooke Homes Hawaii, Inc. to enter into a land exchange agreement for parcels in West Oahu.

Castle & Cooke is preparing a master plan to develop 3,500 homes on 576 acres and requires critical infrastructure including potable water systems, wastewater systems, and drainage systems.

The State and City and County of Honolulu may provide infrastructure financing, zoning and permitting waivers, and fee waivers to offset any differences in land values between properties.

The exchange is authorized under Hawaii Revised Statutes section 171-50(a) for purposes of consolidating public land holdings, straightening boundaries, acquiring access to landlocked public lands, and acquiring land suitable for residential use.

State population is projected to reach 1,657,500 by 2035, with 1,071,200 residents in Honolulu, and the Honolulu Rail Transit project is underway with 21 planned stations in West Oahu.