HILO, Hawai'i — A Big Island County Councilwoman yesterday alleged that Hawaiian Homes Commission Chairman Micah Kane suggested she might be removed from her leased land in Puna if she voted in favor of a county ban on "superstores."

Kane denied he made any threat, and said Puna Councilwoman Emily Naeole's Hawaiian Homes lease in Maku'u was never even discussed.

Naeole said she and Kane were discussing the proposed county superstore ban yesterday by phone when the conversation became heated. Naeole has supported the ban, Kane opposes it.

Wal-Mart is negotiating with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for a new lease for land next to its existing Hilo store, where the company has said it intends to build a larger "superstore" with a full grocery line.

Hawaiian Homes officials say the income from a lease for a superstore could be used to help finance homesteads for Hawaiians, but some critics have opposed the superstore idea.

Naeole said Kane suggested that Naeole and a fellow Native Hawaiian council member — Stacy Higa, who also has voted for the superstore ban — "were pulling down other Hawaiians."

"In that whole discussion, it came out that somebody has been talking about me, getting me off the land," Naeole said. "I don't know how all that came up, it just came out of the blue."

Naeole said she has been concerned about the status of her Maku'u home in part because she has no building permits. Naeole said she was told by then-Big Island Mayor Stephen Yamashiro that she did not need building permits because the county does not have authority over homesteading on Hawaiian Homes land.

"The thing is, I don't want to feel like I've got to be intimidated," Naeole said. "You know what, I'm a tita, and somebody intimidate me, then I've got to stand up and I've got to fight back. That's why I brought it out (at the council session)."

Kane said he explained to Naeole his opposition to the superstore ban, but said it is "absolutely false" that he made any threat in connection with Naeole's lease.

Naeole voted with a 5-4 council majority last night to amend the superstore ban to prohibit superstores only on Hawaiian Home Lands, but to allow them on other lands. The bill still needs to win majority approval in another council vote to pass.

Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com.