This amendment gives the Board of Land and Natural Resources new legal power to sign long-term agreements with local nonprofit groups so they can help manage public lands together.
Hawaii2026Enacted
HB2218
HB2218: Community Co-Management of Public Lands
Last scannedAug 24, 2026, 11:30 PM
In one sentence
This law allows Hawaii's Board of Land and Natural Resources to sign agreements with local non-profit groups to share the management of public lands.
What it does
- Authorizes the board to enter into community co-management agreements through direct negotiation without a public auction.
- Sets rules for which organizations qualify as eligible community co-managers.
- Allows these agreements to cover land use, parking, visitor activities, cultural education, and resource restoration.
- Limits the length of any agreement to no more than sixty-five years.
- Requires groups to submit a detailed plan showing how they will care for natural and cultural resources.
Who it affects
- The Board of Land and Natural Resources
- Non-profit community-based organizations incorporated in Hawaii
Limits and unknowns
- Agreements cannot last longer than sixty-five years.
- Only non-profit corporations with a mission to care for resources can qualify.
- The law does not specify which lands will be chosen first or how many agreements the board must sign.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Community co-management agreement
- A written deal between the state department and a local group to share duties for managing specific land.
- Mālama ʻāina
- The Native Hawaiian concept of caring for the land, natural resources, and cultural values.
- Community co-management unit
- The specific location and boundaries where a management agreement takes place.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES. DLNR; Community Co-Management Agreements; Public Lands Authorizes the Board of Land and Natural Resources to enter into community co-management agreements and establishes qualifications for eligible community co-managers. Authorizes the disposition of public lands by a community co-management agreement. (CD1)
Official activity
Bill history
- Act 203, on 07/08/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1305).H
- Act 203, 07/08/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1305).S
- Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).S
- Transmitted to Governor.H
- Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).H
- Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with Representative(s) Cochran voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).H
- Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.S
- 48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26S
- Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 171-26).S
- Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.H
- Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 171-26) as amended in (CD 1).H
- The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Moriwaki, Chang; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.S
- The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Morikawa, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.H
- Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-30-26 9:00AM; Conference Room 229.S
- Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-29-26 9:00AM; Conference Room 229.S
- Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-28-26 9:00AM; CR 229.S
- Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-27-26 9:00AM; CR 229.S
- Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 717).H
- Senate Conferees Appointed: Lee, C. Chairs; Moriwaki Co-Chair; Chang.S
- Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).S
Changes
Amendments
5 stored
This amendment gives Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources new legal power to sign long-term agreements with local non-profit groups so they can work together to care for public lands.
This amendment gives the Department of Land and Natural Resources new legal power to sign long-term agreements with local nonprofit groups so they can help manage public lands together.
This amendment gives the Department of Land and Natural Resources new legal power to sign long-term agreements with local nonprofit groups so they can help manage public lands together.
This amendment gives the Department of Land and Natural Resources new legal power to sign long-term agreements with local nonprofit groups so they can help manage public lands together.