Relating To The Transfer Of Non-agricultural Park Lands.
The bill outlines specific conditions for the management of the transferred non-agricultural park lands. It establishes that the HDOA will administer these lands separately from agricultural park lands. Additionally, measures are included to ensure that lands classified as having high productivity (class A or B) are not used for developments such as golf courses, thereby prioritizing agricultural use. This could promote better utilization of land resources and agricultural outputs in Hawaii.
House Bill 530 aims to facilitate the transfer of non-agricultural park lands from the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to the Department of Agriculture (HDOA). The bill addresses a previous law (Act 90, Session Laws of Hawaii 2003) under which significant portions of non-agricultural park land were to be transferred but remain pending. It sets a deadline for these transfers to be completed by December 31, 2023, and mandates that both departments meet periodically to identify additional lands for potential transfer in the future.
Despite its potential benefits, House Bill 530 may face scrutiny and opposition from various stakeholders. Concerns may arise regarding the limitations imposed by the bill on certain land uses, particularly in relation to local desires for recreational or tourism-driven developments. Moreover, there may be apprehension among community groups about the effectiveness of the proposed transfers, particularly if the identified lands do not align with local needs or if the departments fail to adequately cooperate in future assessments.