WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HCR 165

URGING KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS / BISHOP ESTATE TO PRIORITIZE COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPARENCY WITH THE HAWAII KAI COMMUNITY AMID LEASE EXPIRATIONS OF PROMINENT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSETS AND MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO IN FUTURE LAND USE DECISIONS.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Gene Ward

Urges KS/Bishop Estate to update Hawaii Kai on expiring leases and keep current land-use to minimize disruption; sends certified copies to leaders and local groups.

Referred to WAL, JHA, referral sheet 22
#bishopestate #hawaiikai #kamehamehaschools #landuse
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HCR 165

Summary: HCR 165 — Urging Kamehameha Schools / Bishop Estate to Prioritize Communication and Transparency with the Hawaii Kai Community

Overview

  • Purpose: A concurrent resolution urging Kamehameha Schools / Bishop Estate (KSBE) to improve communication with the Hawaii Kai community regarding KSBE’s properties with expiring leases and to maintain the current land-use approach to minimize community disruption.
  • Type: Concurrent resolution (non-binding), expressing the sense of the Legislature and urging KSBE to take specific actions.
  • Introduced: May 27, 2025
  • Status: Referred to WAL (Water, Land, and Housing) and JHA (Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs); subsequent referral to Culture, Recreation & Tourism noted in actions. Companion bill: HR 160.

Key Provisions

  • Urges KSBE to provide regular, informative, and timely updates to the Hawaii Kai community about properties with expiring leases and plans for future use or development.
  • Encourages KSBE to maintain the status quo in future land-use decisions, aiming to minimize community impacts and reduce disruptions to how current assets are used.
  • Requires delivery of certified copies of the resolution to KSBE leadership (CEO, Senior Asset Manager, Land Asset Manager, Board of Trustees), as well as to:
    • Chair of the Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board
    • President of the Japan-America Institute of Management Science (JAIMS)
    • Manager of The Oahu Club
    • Kamilonui Valley Farmers Association

Context and Rationale

  • KSBE is described as the largest landowner in Hawaii Kai, a community planned by Henry Kaiser with specific infrastructure and land use.
  • Several KSBE leases are approaching expiration:
    • July 2025: Farm leases in Kamilonui Valley expiring, affecting longtime community farmers (in their 70s) with modest incomes; notes a $10,000 fine passed on to farmers by KSBE related to EPA-enforced cesspool conversions.
    • 2028: Leases in Hahaione Valley (including property housing JAIMS) expected to expire, raising questions about future use and visual impact on nearby residents.
  • The resolution frames ongoing dialogue and transparency as essential given the community’s investment in these assets and the potential impact on views, development, and daily life.

Affected Parties and Potential Impact

  • Primary focus: Hawaii Kai community residents and neighborhood associations.
  • KSBE and its leadership (CEO, asset managers, Board of Trustees) as the entities addressed.
  • Related community organizations and institutions:
    • Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board
    • Japan-America Institute of Management Science (JAIMS)
    • The Oahu Club
    • Kamilonui Valley Farmers Association
  • Impact: As a non-binding resolution, the bill signals legislative expectation for enhanced communication and a cautious preservation of current land-use patterns, potentially shaping public perception and KSBE’s stakeholder engagement approach.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduced and filed on May 27, 2025.
  • Initial referrals: WAL and JHA (March 14, 2025; referral sheet 22).
  • Additional referral: Culture, Recreation & Tourism (May 29, 2025).
  • As a concurrent resolution, it does not create new law but records legislative intent and urges voluntary action by KSBE.

Related Measures

  • Companion bill: HR 160 (House Resolution) addressing similar objectives in a parallel track.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.