The theory is that Hawaiian Homes has more experience in managing land leases.

That's fine, but the shift in management also came with the issuance of eviction notices to some 14 families in the valley. The state said the families violated their lease agreement by failing to engage in active agriculture or because they have failed to build permanent homes on the land.

For the moment, the eviction notices appear to have been put on hold, which is appropriate, especially during the holiday season.

But from a longer perspective, the state also must consider the fact that it shares a large amount of responsibility for the failure of some families to sink roots into the valley, develop farms or build permanent homes.

For decades, the state dragged its feet over offering long-term leases to Waiahole residents. In 1977, then-Gov. George Ariyoshi announced that the state would buy 500 acres in Waiahole Valley for about $6 million.

The dramatic action was taken to stop plans to evict the valley's rural residents and to prevent the land from being developed into a housing subdivision.

The plan then was for the area to become an agricultural park, and those people already on the land who were willing to agree to long-term agricultural use or rural houselots would get leases.

Those leases were not signed until 1998, more than 20 years later. It's no wonder people were reluctant to sink time and money into their property when they had no assurance they would be able to stay over the long haul.

It's true that ultimately the state has a right to insist that folks in the valleys either farm or otherwise maintain a rural lifestyle. The point of buying the land (plus earlier efforts to buy large portions of nearby Kahana Valley) was to "keep the country country."

And if current residents of the valley are unwilling to do their part to keep that promise to the taxpayers, then they should make way for others who are.

But given the history, residents must be allowed more time to either get their act together or move. The new management, Hawaiian Homes, should do what it can to work with these families to see if homes can be built or viable agricultural enterprises put into place.

Valley residents fear this change might be the first step toward eventual development of the valley into a more dense subdivision. Hawaiian Homes officials insist this is not the case and that they have no plans for development.

We'll have to take them at their word. We are a bit concerned, however, by comments from Hawaiian Homes that while there are no plans now for development, that could change in 10 or 15 years.

From our perspective, that would be a disaster. The purchase of Waiahole-Waikane came with a promise that this small chunk of O'ahu would forever remain rural, agricultural and green.