Office of Hawaiian Affairs asks for court help to get state to pay $200M
Associated Press
HONOLULU — The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has asked the state Supreme Court to require the Legislature to address $200 million in past due public land trust revenue claims.
OHA said Wednesday that OHA and the Lingle administration entered into a settlement agreement that resolved the claims in 2008.
The revenues are for the state's use of ceded lands, such as airports, hospitals and the Hawaii Housing Authority.
According to OHA, court decisions in 2001 and 2006 mandated the Legislature address the claims. It says its proposals submitted during the 2008, 2009 and 2010 legislative sessions were rejected.
OHA's chief executive officer, Clyde Namuo, called going to the Supreme Court on Wednesday "a means of last resort."