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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, January 21, 2008

Proposal would preserve ag lands

 •  Legislature 2008
 •  Ted Hong to run for Hawaii state Senate seat

By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Central O'ahu Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

State Sen. Robert Bunda, D-22nd (North Shore, Wahiawa)

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Rep. Marcus Oshiro, D-39th (Wahiawa)

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Sen. Ron Menor, D-17th (Mililani, Waipi'o)

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Rep. Ryan Yamane, D-37th (Waipi'o, Mililani)

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Preserving George Galbraith Trust lands for agricultural use is among the legislative proposals that could affect the Central O'ahu region this session.

State Sen. Robert Bunda, D-22nd (North Shore, Wahiawa), is proposing a bill that would enable lawmakers to designate certain agricultural lands with historical, cultural and visual value as "historic agricultural landmarks."

The measure would designate Galbraith Trust's 2,100 acres of former pineapple land in Central O'ahu as a historic agricultural landmark. The use of such areas would be restricted to agriculture.

Rep. Marcus Oshiro, D-39th (Wahiawa), is proposing legislation that would enable the state to acquire the Galbraith lands and said he's seeking partnerships with public and private agencies to help with such a purchase.

An effort to sell the Galbraith Trust's 2,100 acres fell through late last year, and Bank of Hawaii — serving as the trustee of the estate — said it will relist the property. Most of the property, adjacent to Wahiawa and four miles north of Mililani town, was leased to Del Monte Fresh Produce, which announced in 2006 it was closing its pineapple-growing operation in Hawai'i.

The Galbraith lands, when first listed in 2005, were expected to command between $30 million and $50 million, local real-estate experts have said.

Many lawmakers in the Central O'ahu region are still compiling wish lists from schools and other constituents in their districts and forming legislation for the session, which began Wednesday.

Sen. Ron Menor, D-17th (Mililani, Waipi'o), said school facility improvements are a high priority for legislators in the Mililani and Waipi'o Gentry area, "given the fact that our area schools continue to deal with rising student enrollments and overcrowding."

Lawmakers in other Central O'ahu areas also said they will seek improvements in school buildings and facilities.

For example, Pearl City lawmakers are seeking $2.5 million — to add to $1.2 million appropriated earlier — to expand Pearl City Elementary School's library.

Plans for expanding the library, which was built nearly 50 years ago for a smaller student population, includes a multimedia center. Pearl City Elementary principal Susan Hirokane said the expansion would help advance the school's science efforts in partnership with NASA — it was named a NASA Explorer School in 2006 — as well as support the school's goal for students to provide public announcements and other services to community groups.

Lawmakers representing Moanalua, Mililani and Wahiawa are seeking money to install artificial turf at the football fields of Moanalua High School, Mililani High School and Leilehua High School.

There will also likely be another push from area legislators for a new 'Aiea Public Library. 'Aiea residents had been searching for more than a decade for a larger location for the library when the state bought land at the old 'Aiea Sugar Mill site about four years ago. The state expressed hopes of moving the library there, but the planning process has yet to begin.

Rep. Ryan Yamane, D-37th (Waipi'o, Mililani), said he'll be seeking $1 million for a traffic study for Central O'ahu. He said money previously allocated for a study has lapsed.


Correction: A picture of state Sen. Ron Menor. D-17th (Mililani, Waipi'o). was incorrect in a previous version of this story.

Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com.