Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official page posted by the Hawaii State Legislature, fetched 2026-08-29. Where this bill amends existing law, language marked for deletion in the official page appears here in brackets. This is the first conference draft. The official bill page.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B. NO. 2592 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D. 2 STATE OF HAWAII S.D. 2 C.D. 1 A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE MAUNA KEA STEWARDSHIP AND OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII: PART I SECTION 1. The legislature finds that refinements to the laws that confer the responsibilities and powers on the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority are needed to ensure that management of Mauna Kea continues to embody a paradigm of balance and reciprocity that protects the mountain's ecological character, perpetuates Native Hawaiian traditional and customary rights and practices, and supports the State's global leadership in astronomy. The legislature recognizes that Mauna Kea is a rare and extraordinary place that evokes cultural, spiritual, environmental, and scientific significance. The summit region encompasses fragile ecosystems, important historical and archaeological sites, and sacred landscapes interwoven into the fabric of Native Hawaiian identity. At the same time, Mauna Kea's unique topography and atmospheric conditions have made it the world's premier site for astronomical research, enabling countless advancements in humanity's millennia-long yearning to comprehend the principles, origins, and evolution of the cosmos. The legislature acknowledges that due to this confluence of significance, decades of tension have arisen over stewardship of the mauna. In 2022, the legislature established the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority through Act 255, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, to govern Mauna Kea in a more harmonious and collaborative manner by requiring that the governance be with mutual stewardship and balance as guiding principles. The legislature charged the authority to manage Mauna Kea through a mindset that honors and perpetuates Native Hawaiian cultural practices, safeguards natural resources, and allows for the responsible advancement of astronomy while maintaining the mountain's spiritual, cultural, and environmental integrity. The legislature believes that the governance provided by the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority will bring about an era of mutually beneficial coexistence between all parties with interest in Mauna Kea. The legislature further recognizes the need for continued refinement of the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority's jurisdiction and responsibilities. Strengthened guidance will ensure that the authority manages Mauna Kea with transparency, accountability, and respect through the bedrock values of mauna aloha, ʻōpū kūpuna, holomua ʻoi kelakela, kānāwai, ʻohana, and kuleana. Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to clarify the powers of the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority so that it may properly carry out its responsibilities regarding land use on Mauna Kea. PART II SECTION 2. The purpose of this part is to: (1) Specify that on June 30, 2028, and December 31, 2029, Act 255, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, and chapter 195H, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be repealed and management authority over Mauna Kea lands shall revert to the university of Hawaii, respectively, if the deadline to adopt a management plan or to submit proposed rules to the governor is not met; (2) Extend the date on which all rights, powers, functions, and duties of the university of Hawaii relating to the powers and responsibilities granted to the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority under part I of Act 255, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, will be transferred to the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority, from July 1, 2028, to December 1, 2029, to ensure all applicable stakeholders have sufficient time to implement a successful transition; and (3) Clarify that the oversight and interest of the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority in the Mauna Kea lands shall be no more than what is expressly granted under chapter 195H, Hawaii Revised Statutes. SECTION 3. Section 171-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows: "§171-3 Department of land and natural resources. (a) The department of land and natural resources shall be headed by an executive board to be known as the board of land and natural resources. The department shall manage, administer, and exercise control over public lands, the water resources, ocean waters, navigable streams, coastal areas (excluding commercial harbor areas), and minerals and all other interests therein and exercise such powers of disposition thereof as may be authorized by law. The department shall also manage and administer the state parks, historical sites, forests, forest reserves, aquatic life, aquatic life sanctuaries, public fishing areas, boating, ocean recreation, coastal programs, wildlife, wildlife sanctuaries, game management areas, public hunting areas, natural area reserves, and other functions assigned by law. (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), beginning January 1, 2010, the authority to manage, administer, and exercise control over any public lands that are designated important agricultural lands pursuant to section 205-44.5, shall be transferred to the department of agriculture and biosecurity. (c) Notwithstanding subsection (a), to the extent specified in chapter 195H, the authority to manage, administer, and exercise control over public lands defined as Mauna Kea lands in section 195H-2 is transferred to the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority." SECTION 4. Section 195H-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows: 1. By amending its title and subsections (a) and (b) to read: "[[]§195H-6[]] Transition; management plan. (a) The authority shall have a transition period of [five years] seventy-seven months beginning July 1, 2023[;] and ending December 1, 2029; provided that all of the initial members have been confirmed by the senate. During the transition period, the authority shall jointly manage Mauna Kea lands with the [University] university of Hawaii; provided that the authority's day-to-day operations shall be carried out by the center of Mauna Kea stewardship for the transition period established in this subsection. (b) The authority shall develop a management plan to govern land uses; human activities, other uses, and access, including permitted uses for frequent and seasonal users; stewardship; education; research; disposition; and overall operations. The management plan shall: (1) Be developed during the transition period; (2) [Be finalized, approved, and operational by the end of the transition period;] Be adopted by the authority before June 30, 2028, and be operational by December 1, 2029, the end of the transition period; [[](3)[]]Be updated at least every ten years with a focus on long-term, comprehensive, and coordinated planning for all of the Mauna Kea lands; [[](4)[]]Consider the State's energy and sustainability goals, as well as impacts to climate change, including adapting to climate change and developing mitigation measures to climate change; [[](5)[] ]Prepare for and establish the framework, criteria, and procedures for any leases and permits; [[](6)[]]Incorporate indigenous management and cultural processes and values; and [[](7)[]]Include an aspirational statement to acknowledge and contextualize unresolved social justice issues that underpin the conservation, preservation, and public use of Mauna Kea." 2. By amending subsection (f) to read: "(f) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, commencing on July 1, 2022, and until the expiration of the transition period, no new lease shall be issued [and no existing lease shall be renewed] involving any Mauna Kea lands; provided that, upon the expiration of an existing lease during the transition period, a lessee may continue to hold the land as a holdover, subject to any terms and conditions as may be mutually agreed upon by the authority and University of Hawaii." SECTION 5. Section 195H-13, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows: "[[]§195H-13[]] Rules. (a) [In addition to any other rulemaking powers authorized under this chapter, the] The authority [may] shall adopt rules that implement, interpret, or prescribe law or policy, or the organization, procedures, or practice requirements, pursuant to chapter 91 [on], for the management, stewardship, oversight, and protection of the Mauna Kea lands and their cultural resources. The rules adopted under this section shall follow existing laws, rules, ordinances, and regulations as closely as is consistent with standards to meet minimum requirements of good design, health, safety, and coordinated development. (b) The authority [may adopt] shall submit proposed rules to the governor before [the end of the transitional five-year period established in section 195H-6;] December 31, 2029; provided that the rules shall not go into effect until the transition period is completed." SECTION 6. Act 255, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, is amended as follows: 1. By amending section 7 to read: "SECTION 7. (a) On [July 1, 2028,] December 1, 2029, all rights, powers, functions, and duties of the [University] university of Hawaii relating to the powers and responsibilities granted to the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority under part I of this Act are transferred to the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority. (b) Notwithstanding the transfer of all rights, powers, functions, and duties pursuant to subsection (a), the [state lease] leases by and between the board of land and natural resources and the [University] university of Hawaii entered into on June 21, 1968, as General Lease S-4191, as amended [on September 21, 1999, as], and General Lease S-5529[,] shall remain in full force and effect until [its] their respective expiration dates unless otherwise specifically amended pursuant to an agreement by the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority and the [University] university of Hawaii. (c) Upon the assignment of all rights, powers, and duties of the [University] university of Hawaii to the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority pursuant to subsection (a), the [University] university of Hawaii shall be released from any and all obligations under the state lease by and between the board of land and natural resources and the [University] university of Hawaii entered into on June 21, 1968, as General Lease S-4191, as amended [on September 21, 1999, as], and General Lease S-5529, and any conservation district use application permits appertaining thereto, unless otherwise specifically agreed upon pursuant to an agreement by the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority and the [University] university of Hawaii; provided that the transfer and release authorized under this subsection shall not apply to any litigation pending on [June 30, 2028,] November 30, 2029, relating to General Lease S-4191, as amended [on September 21, 1999, as], and General Lease S-5529, or any conservation district use application permit appertaining thereto, to which the [University] university of Hawaii is a party. (d) [Notwithstanding subsection (b) or any action that is a consequence of this Act, including a merger of interests, effective July 1, 2028, every reference to the department of land and natural resources, board of land and natural resources, or the chairperson of the board of land and natural resources in those deeds, leases, subleases, contracts, loans, agreements, permits, or other documents relating to Mauna Kea lands shall be construed as a reference to the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority or the chairperson of the authority, as appropriate; provided that all] All deeds, leases, subleases, contracts, loans, agreements, permits, or other documents executed or entered into [prior to] before the effective date of this Act, by or on behalf of the department of land and natural resources or the board of land and natural resources pursuant to the Hawaii Revised Statutes that are reenacted or made applicable to the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority by this Act, shall remain in full force and effect until [its] their respective expiration dates unless otherwise specifically amended pursuant to an agreement by the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority and the [University] university of Hawaii." 2. By amending section 16 to read: "SECTION 16. On the close of business on [June 30, 2028,] December 1, 2029, all moneys in the Mauna Kea lands management special fund established pursuant to section 304A-2170, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be deposited in the Mauna Kea management special fund established pursuant to section [ -15,] 195H-15, Hawaii Revised Statutes, in part I, section 2, of this Act." 3. By amending section 18 to read: "SECTION 18. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2022; provided that part IV shall take effect on [July 1, 2028.] December 1, 2029." SECTION 7. Notwithstanding any provision herein or any other law to the contrary, title to the Mauna Kea lands shall remain with the State. The board of land and natural resources shall retain the leased-fee interest or fee interest, as the case may be, in the Mauna Kea lands. SECTION 8. Act 255, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, is repealed. SECTION 9. Chapter 195H, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is repealed. PART III SECTION 10. The purpose of this part is to clarify that the existing plans and administrative rules under which Mauna Kea is currently governed shall continue in full force and effect until a superseding master plan, management plan, or administrative rules, or any portion thereof, adopted by the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority, takes effect. SECTION 11. (a) Notwithstanding section 195H-6(b)(2), Hawaii Revised Statutes, or any other law to the contrary, the existing master plan, management plan, and administrative rules adopted or developed by the university of Hawaii to implement provisions of the Hawaii Revised Statutes that are: (1) Repealed by part IV of Act 255, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022; or (2) Otherwise reenacted or made applicable to the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority by Act 255, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, shall remain in full force and effect, including times subsequent to December 1, 2029, until a superseding master plan, management plan, or administrative rules, or any portion thereof, adopted by the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority, takes effect. The Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority, when adopting a superseding master plan, management plan, or administrative rule, or any portion thereof, shall affirmatively state through a public notice issued in accordance with section 1-28.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which existing plan or rule, or portion thereof, is superseded. (b) If the existing master plan, management plan, and administrative rules adopted or developed by the university of Hawaii remain in effect after December 1, 2029, every reference to the university of Hawaii, center for Mauna Kea stewardship, office of Mauna Kea management, board of regents, president of the university of Hawaii, or other similar term in the master plan, management plan, or administrative rule is amended to refer to the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority, unless the context clearly requires otherwise. PART IV SECTION 12. Section 195H-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows: "(a) There is established the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority, which shall be a body corporate and a public instrumentality of the State for the purpose of implementing this chapter. The authority shall serve jointly with the [University] university of Hawaii in fulfilling the obligations and duties under the state lease for a period of five years as established in section 195H-6. The authority shall be placed within the department of land and natural resources for administrative purposes[; provided that section [26-35] shall not apply to the authority.] and, pursuant to section 26-35(b), is an arm of the State and shall have the same sovereign immunity available to the State." PART V SECTION 13. The purpose of this part is to authorize the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority to extend existing leases and subleases before the transfer of powers and duties pertaining to Mauna Kea lands to the authority for up to an additional ten-year term. SECTION 14. Section 195H-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows: "(b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, all powers and duties of the board of land and natural resources pursuant to chapter 171, and the land use commission pursuant to chapter 205, concerning permits, dispositions, land use approvals, and any other approvals pertaining to the Mauna Kea lands are transferred to the authority upon the expiration of the transition period; provided that the authority may extend existing leases and subleases before the transfer for up to an additional ten-year term; provided further that the authority shall have all necessary powers and authorities to consider and grant lease extensions, before the transition period expires, without the approval of the board of land and natural resources and the land use commission, and any extensions granted during the transition period under this section shall be exempt from chapter 343, term restrictions in section 171-36, or sections 171-36.5 and 171-95.1; provided further that the transfer of such powers and duties from the board of land and natural resources and the land use commission may occur earlier, upon approval of the authority, the board of land and natural resources, and the land use commission. Upon the expiration of the transition period, the authority shall carry out the powers and duties otherwise conferred upon the board of land and natural resources pursuant to chapter 171, and the land use commission pursuant to chapter 205, with regard to permits, dispositions, land use approvals, and any other approvals pertaining to the Mauna Kea lands." PART VI SECTION 15. (a) If the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority fails to adopt a management plan before June 30, 2028, as required by section 195H-6(b)(2), Hawaii Revised Statutes, the governor shall inform the president of the senate and speaker of the house of representatives on June 30, 2028, that the condition in section 18(1) of this Act has occurred. (b) If the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority fails to submit proposed administrative rules to the governor before December 31, 2029, as required by section 195H-13(b), Hawaii Revised Statutes, the governor shall inform the president of the senate and speaker of the house of representatives on December 31, 2029, that the condition in section 18(2) of this Act has occurred. SECTION 16. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date. SECTION 17. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored. SECTION 18. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that: (1) If the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority fails to adopt a management plan for Mauna Kea before June 30, 2028, as provided in section 195H-6(b)(2), Hawaii Revised Statutes, on June 30, 2028: (A) Sections 8 and 9 of this Act shall take effect; (B) Section 28-8.3(a) and (c), Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be reenacted in the form in which it read on June 29, 2028, excluding the amendments made to that section by Act 255, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022; (C) Section 76-16(b), Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be reenacted in the form in which it read on June 29, 2028, excluding the amendments made to that subsection by Act 255, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022; (D) Section 3 of this Act shall be repealed, and section 171-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be reenacted in the form in which it read on the day before the effective date of this Act; and (E) Management authority over Mauna Kea lands, as defined in section 304A-1901, Hawaii Revised Statutes, before it is repealed, shall revert to the university of Hawaii; or (2) If the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority fails to submit proposed administrative rules allowing the authority to effectively manage Mauna Kea in accordance with the management plan to the governor before December 31, 2029, as provided in section 195H‑13(b), Hawaii Revised Statutes, on December 31, 2029: (A) Sections 8 and 9 of this Act shall take effect; (B) Section 28-8.3(a) and (c), Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be reenacted in the form in which it read on December 30, 2029, excluding the amendments made to that section by Act 255, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022; (C) Section 76-16(b), Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be reenacted in the form in which it read on December 30, 2029, excluding the amendments made to that subsection by Act 255, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022; (D) Section 3 of this Act shall be repealed, and section 171-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be reenacted in the form in which it read on the day before the effective date of this Act; and (E) Management authority over Mauna Kea lands, as defined in section 304A-1901, Hawaii Revised Statutes, before it is repealed, shall revert to the university of Hawaii.
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