Bill > HB143

This bill clarifies the roles and responsibilities of the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority (MKSOA) and its lessees regarding conservation district use permits on Mauna Kea. Specifically, the bill establishes that lessees, not the MKSOA, will be responsible for applying for conservation district use permits for lands subject to their leases, with the MKSOA becoming the regulatory authority for approving and overseeing these permits after a transition period. The bill allows the MKSOA to apply for permits for common area improvements that do not benefit a specific lessee. Notably, the bill provides an exception for 13 specific conservation district use permits related to astronomical observatories, which will remain with the University of Hawaii as the named permittee even after July 1, 2028, though still subject to MKSOA oversight. This legislation stems from Act 255 of 2022, which established the MKSOA to address historical tensions between cultural preservation and scientific activities on Mauna Kea, and aims to create a more collaborative and balanced approach to managing the mountain's unique ecosystem and cultural significance.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=143&year=2026