Lawmakers appear poised to give relief to six families who were on the brink of eviction from historic Kahana Valley late last year.

Two bills that address the situation — Senate Bill 638 and House Bill 1552 — have made it to the closing weeks of this year's Legislature. While there are differences between the bills, leaders from both sides say they feel they can reach consensus.

'Ahupua'a O Kahana Valley State Park was created as a living park, and up to 31 families were granted leases to live there in exchange for performing cultural activities for the public for 25 hours a month.

Last October, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources threatened to evict six families for failing to meet the terms of their leases after state attorneys determined that new leases in the valley could not legally be negotiated since a law that provided for long-term leases there expired in 1993.

When area lawmakers and the Hawaiian community joined Kahana Valley families in objecting to the evictions, Land Board Director Laura H. Thielen backed off and agreed to leave resolution in the hands of the Legislature.

Ululani Birnie, a lifelong Kahana resident, said she and her neighbors take their duty seriously. Over the weekend, volunteers from within and outside the valley were scheduled to work taro patches and clean stream beds.

Others were set to carve poi boards or weave lauhala, she said.

Last week, university students helped with restoration at Huilua Fishpond, a designated National Historic Landmark.

"The residents want to do things that are right and are for the benefit of the public," Birnie said. Most spend considerably more than 25 hours a month, she said.

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