Gov. Neil Abercrombie has withdrawn his appointment of Kauai developer Shawn Smith to the state Board of Land and Natural Resources.

Sen. Malama Solomon made the announcement at the beginning of a Senate Water and Land Committee hearing Wednesday.

William Aila, chair of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, said after the meeting that Smith withdrew himself midday Wednesday. When asked why, he said Smith “referred to the process as being challenging.”

Smith is the general manager of the Kauai real estate company Falko Partners. His company is in the process of selling 357 acres in Kilauea for $70 million.

Despite its ag zoning, the property is being developed as a luxury housing subdivision. 

It’s common practice in Hawaii to build subdivisions on ag land due to loopholes in state land use laws. People can plant a few mango trees, for instance, and call the home a “farm dwelling.”

Still, there was significant public concern over Smith being nominated to the BLNR because of his favorable ties to development. Abercrombie defended the nomination, which Aila said took a year to come to this point.

The decision to withdraw the nomination restarts the search process, although the governor has the option of appointing an interim board member.

Read more about the Smith nomination in Civil Beat here.

— Nathan Eagle

The Senate Water and Land Committee meets, Oct. 30, 2013. (Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat)