Officials of the Public Land Development Corporation have had a tough week as they’ve traveled throughout the islands to hear public testimony on proposed rules to govern the agency. 

Residents on neighbor islands have given PLDC employees a tongue-lashing. You can read Civil Beat’s story here. 

But Lloyd Haraguchi, the PLDC’s executive director is seeking to calm the storm. 

In a press release issued Monday, Haraguchi stresses that the PLDC, which acts as a development arm of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, is not exempt from federal and state environmental and conservation laws.

He said the vision of the agency was to improve public lands for Hawaii residents and “to create public-private partnership that yield economic, environmental or social benefits and be culturally sensitive and appropriate for the communities they serve.” 

From DLNR: 

Haraguchi noted that many people attending the hearings to-date have misconceptions about why the PLDC was established and how it observes environmental laws. 

He explained: “The PLDC is not exempt from federal laws, state environmental impact laws, nor state historic preservation laws. The PLDC is committed to working with county zoning and permitting requirements to ensure that its projects conform to county guidelines. PLDC is committed to doing what is pono for the people and the state; always being sensitive to the environment and culture of Hawai‘i.” 
  
One of the public concerns that has been raised was that the PLDC may waive its rules. However he said this provision ONLY applies to Chapter 301, Rules of Practice and Procedure, and is in place to enable the PLDC Board to have greater flexibility in accepting testimony from the public. It does not apply to Chapter 302, Public Land Development Program, nor Chapter 303, Project Facility Program. 

Haraguchi said one frequent question that has been raised is whether OHA will receive any of the revenue from PLDC projects on ceded lands.   

“The answer is yes.   Lands under the PLDC are subject to the same requirements regarding payments to OHA as are other state lands.” 

The PLDC was created by the state Legislature to help generate additional revenues for Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) by developing under-utilized or unused public land; this revenue-generating ability also exists within other state agency/department, such as the Department of Education or county governments. 

Haraguchi said that community involvement and input is being sought on development proposals for any project to address the issues and concerns of the community in order to improve the communities that it serves. 

Remaining public hearings will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the following times and locations: 

MOLOKA‘I: Monday, August 27, at Mitchell Pau‘ole Community Center, 90 Ainoa St., Kaunakakai, HI 96748; 

O‘AHU: Wednesday, August 29, at Department of Land and Natural Resources, Kalanimoku Building, Land Board Conference Room 132, 1151 Punchbowl St., Honolulu, HI 96813; and 

KAUA‘I: Friday, August 31, at Elsie H. Wilcox Elementary School, 4319 Hardy St., Lihu‘e, HI 96766.