Gov. Linda Lingle has indicated she intends to veto a bill that would allow new residential leases in Kahana Valley, prompting residents to schedule a protest rally today.

Area lawmakers also said they would try to override a veto of the bill.

In placing HB 1552 on her veto list, Lingle called the measure special-interest legislation. Lingle said it establishes a moratorium against the eviction of Kahana Valley residents "even when there are illegal activities occurring on the premises or these tenants fail to pay their rents and fulfill certain legal obligations to live in the valley."

The bill would place a two-year moratorium on any evictions, allow for more leases to be issued and create a panel to develop a master plan for the park.

Kahana Valley tenants were stunned by the veto proposal explanation and expect to show their discontent at an 11 a.m. rally today at the state Capitol.

Lena Soliven, a spokeswoman for residents seeking leases in the valley, said she tried to pay rent to the state but that her check was returned. So now she and other residents without leases contribute 25 hours a month or more for programs in the park, which is required for leaseholders.

"Here we're thinking we're pushing forward and now we've come to a roadblock," Soliven said. "It saddens me to know she doesn't stand behind us."

The 5,280-acre Ahupua'a 'O Kahana State Park is designated as a "cultural living park" where 28 families each provide 25 hours a month of cultural activities for visitors and do other work in exchange for a lease to live there.

The park was created 30 years ago to preserve the valley from development and protect one of the few intact ahupua'a in the islands.

The families that were living in the valley at the time of the preservation were allowed to stay, and legislation creating the living park set up the leases.

Today some of those families have lost their leases, or their children grew up hoping to obtain leases as they became available. Some had been told they would receive leases but learned last year that the state attorney general found that the law that created the leases had expired, so no new leases could be granted.

At the end of last year the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, which oversees the park, moved to evict six families that had no leases, but community support stopped it.

Laura H. Thielen, director of DLNR, had said she would allow the state Legislature time to resolve the problem and HB 1552 was passed this year.

Sen. Clayton Hee, D-23rd (Kane'ohe, Kahuku), said he and Rep. Jessica Wooley D-47th (Ha'iku, Kahalu'u, La'ie) have agreed to bring the bill before the Legislature for an override vote if Lingle vetoes it.

"If the legislators who voted for the bill vote for the override, there's more than enough votes for the override," Hee said.