City, State Reach Accord On Kawai Nui

Carol Chang
Wednesday - April 18, 2007
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A measure agreed to by the 2007 Legislature and city and state officials last week could secure the future for Kawai Nui Marsh as the pristine natural resource residents have struggled to preserve for years.

In an agreement reached largely through the efforts of Mitch D’Olier and the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation - who brought the city and state together for the successful negotiations - the city will transfer ownership of the marsh to the state, including responsibility for the levee and its flood control wall.


House Bill 1899, SD2 (passed by both houses) states that the fee-simple land transfer should be completed by Sept. 1, and it provides funds for marsh maintenance and educational services. The extent of funding, plus additional efforts by U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye for federal money, are still undetermined.

“This agreement represents hard work on both sides,” admitted D’Olier, CEO of Kaneohe Ranch.“Everyone involved showed a real commitment to preserving Kawai Nui and setting up a framework that will benefit the environment and the community.”

The transfer settles a decades-long dispute over responsibility for the 830 acre marsh, Hawaii’s largest remaining wetland that was designated as “a Wetland of International Importance” by the Ramsar Convention in 2005.

Several community organizations have watched this city-state debate with concern, since it put millions of dollars in federal funds in jeopardy - funds set aside to construct wetland bird habitat ponds.


Chuck Burrows of Ahahui Malama i ka Lokahi and the Kawai Nui Heritage Foundation credits state Sen. Jill Tokuda and state Rep. Pono Chong for their roles in pushing for a marsh protection plan.

“We ask for your continued support in these efforts,” he said, noting with Tokuda that maintenance money is critical and not yet approved, or signed off on by the governor.

“I’m hoping that if/when the bill is signed by the governor,” Tokuda said, “we can do it at the marsh with everyone present.”

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