HB 533 Summary

• Establishes a development zone called the "new ahupua`a zone" in Hawaii County (county with second largest population) consisting of approximately 120,000 acres of state forest reserve land in the central eastern region.

• Governor selects a for-profit or nonprofit entity to manage the zone, with duties including implementing a master plan, conducting land leases and licensing, managing income reports, and seeking private investors and federal grants.

• Exempts the zone from state and county building permits (if plans prepared by licensed professionals), general excise tax for first 10 years of company operations, state taxes during business depreciation, and zoning/land use requirements.

• Allows specified activities within the zone including farming, forestry harvesting, water wells, stream/river water diversion (up to 50% natural flow), solar installations, rain catchment systems, farm dwellings, rock quarries, and consideration of a private or government-run prison with inmate work programs.

• Appropriates unspecified funds from general revenues for fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 to be expended by the Department of Agriculture; takes effect July 1, 2023.