At long last, it’s long
leases at Waiahole

By Pat Omandam
Star-Bulletin

Waiahole resident David Chinen is looking forward to going home today -- and not being empty-handed.

The president of the Waiahole-Waikane Community Association this afternoon is expected to leave Gov. Ben Cayetano's office with 93 signed state leases for Waiahole residents, allowing them to continue a rural lifestyle that was promised to them in 1977.

Cayetano was to present the 55-year leases to Chinen, a year after the state agreed not to develop 600 acres of land in Waiahole after residents there vowed to fight their evictions.

Instead, the state offered the community a residential subdivision and an agricultural park.

"Twenty-one years is a long time," said Chinen, who has served as president of the association since 1978.

"And it hasn't been easy."

Chinen said many disputes over the long-term leases lingered until 1995, when Waiahole residents finally agreed to sign them.

The state, however, held off executing the documents until the Waiahole Ditch controversy was resolved a year later.

Tenants of the land have been living for nearly 21 years on month-to-month leases, he said.

The new leases will allow them to remain on their land for 55 years, with a possible 20-year extension if a majority of the tenants agree to it, Chinen said.

"From the purchase date of March 1977 and a period of 21 years, the association has negotiated in good faith and exercised due diligence through three state administrations and five executive directors," Chinen said.

"We thank all the supporters throughout the state for their 21 years of support, and four legal counsels since 1977."

The association dedicated the long-term leases to the 53 supporters who died before the leases were signed.

Cayetano said the leases represent "security, stability and permanence for the residents of Waiahole Valley, who have waited over two decades for this day to arrive.

"My administration has been committed to getting things done like securing these leases as a way to preserve the agricultural lifestyle of this Windward community," he said.