§171-50 - Exchanges.
D. Miscellaneous
Cross References
Civil relief for state military forces, see chapter 657D.
Disposition of state boating facility properties, see §200-2.5.
§171-50 Exchanges. (a) Purpose. No exchange of public land for private land shall be made except for public purposes, including but not limited to (1) consolidation of holdings of public lands; (2) straightening of boundaries of public lands; (3) acquisition of adequate access for landlocked public lands which have development potential; or (4) acquisition of lands suitable for residential use. Exchanges shall be effected without public auction. Public notice of any proposed exchange shall be given in accordance with the applicable provisions set forth in section 171-16(d). All private lands conveyed to the State by way of exchanges shall thereafter become public lands.
(b) Value. The public land exchanged shall be of substantially equal value to that of the private land. In any exchange, the fair market value of the private land and the public land shall be separately determined by a disinterested qualified appraiser or appraisers and the cost shall be borne equally between the owner and the board. No payment by the State shall be required should the private land exceed the value of the public land, but any difference in value of the public land over the private land shall be paid to the State at the time of the exchange; provided no exchange shall be made should public land exceed one hundred twenty per cent of the value of the private land.
(c) Legislative disapproval. Any exchange of public land for private land shall be subject to disapproval by the legislature by two thirds vote of either the senate or the house of representatives or by majority vote of both in any regular or special session following the date of the board of land and natural resources' approval in principle of the exchange. The department shall submit for introduction to the legislature a resolution for review of action on any exchange to be consummated by the board wherein exchange deeds will be executed by the parties together with the following information: (1) the location and area of the parcels of land to be exchanged; (2) the value of the lands to be conveyed by the State and the private party; (3) the name or names of the appraiser or appraisers; (4) the date of the appraisal valuation; and (5) the purpose for which the lands are being exchanged. A copy of the resolution shall also be submitted to the office of Hawaiian affairs when it is submitted to the legislature.
(d) Exception. Notwithstanding any limitations set forth in this section, the board may exchange public land for Hawaiian homes commission's available land of equal value in order to consolidate its holdings or the holdings of the commission or to effectuate better the purposes of this chapter or of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, as amended. [L 1962, c 32, pt of §2; am L 1965, c 239, §25; Supp, §103A-47; am L 1967, c 234, §3; HRS §171-50; am L 1969, c 281, §1; am L 1970, c 184, §4; am L 1972, c 175, §1; am L 1975, c 69, §§1, 2; am L 1977, c 17, §1; am L 2003, c 75, §1; am L 2009, c 176, §3]
Case Notes
Claim for relief against state officials based on alleged illegality of exchange of ceded lands was barred by State's sovereign immunity. 73 H. 578, 837 P.2d 1247.
Former similar law cited: 18 H. 221, 225; 28 H. 462.