Template:Nhsc-v1-384

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consisted of more than 10,000 acres and the Commission did not make a selection from the acreage available, the grants of public lands in the area were valid. The Act, however, provided that the Commission must make selections of land in only three areas and Kawaihae I was not one of these. Thus, public grants were made of lands in the Kawaihae I area for which DHHL may have a claim because they did not acquire the total acreage mentioned in the Act. The present Deputy Attorney General stated that the 1966 opinion would be reviewed.

There are two major reasons for DHHL not establishing a current and accurate inventory of Home lands for which it is the trustee. First, DLNR never established a current and comprehensive inventory of the State, public, and Home lands. Until 1966, DLNR administered the Home lands that we're not yet homesteaded. DHHL began assuming full responsibility for all Home lands in 1965 but did not receive an accurate, current, and comprehensive inventory of the lands from DLNR. Second, due to limited financial resources and other priorities, DHHL has not expended the resources necessary to establish a complete, accurate, and comprehensive land inventory.

According to the Akinaka Study, there remain Home lands for which boundaries and areas are based on very early surveys and determinations and until such lands are accurately resurveyed, doubts will necessarily linger as to the true boundaries and acreages of the available lands. A rough estimate by DHHL is that 40 percent of these lands have not been accurately surveyed.

Land Withdrawals

There needs to be an aggressive and accelerated approach to resolve the issue of Home lands which have been withdrawn for public use. According to DHHL there are approximately 17,270 acres of Home lands that are being used by Federal, State, and county governments for public purposes. Approximately 13,600 acres of these lands have been withdrawn under Governor's Executive Orders (GEO's) issued by the Territorial and State Governors.

The State of Hawaii Attorney General has determined that the GEO powers did not extend to Home lands; therefore, the withdrawals were not in accordance with the Act. This opinion was confirmed in a court case involving Home lands withdrawn for the General Lyman Airport on the island of Hawaii. According to DHHL records, the Home lands under GEO's and their use are as follows:

Public Service Acres
Airports 176
Schools 17
Parks 10
Forest/Conservation 767
Game Reserve 11,123
Public Service 128
Right of Way 4
Military 1,356
13,601

Although the Attorney General in 1975 issued the opinion that GEO powers were not applicable to Home lands, DHHL, because of limited resources, has not made the effort necessary to identify all lands that have been withdrawn for public use, determine the issues related to the withdrawals, and develop recommendations for the Commission to consider in determining the course of action to

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