A Real Difference Between Ige and Abercrombie

Turtle Bay Easement Acquisition

News Release from Ige Campaign

Honolulu, HI   (May 19, 2014) —The last-minute deal at the state Legislature to secure funding for an agreement to acquire 665 pristine acres adjacent to the North Shore’s Turtle Bay Resort, including the magnificent Kawela Bay, vividly demonstrates the difference in problem solving between gubernatorial candidate Senator David Ige and Governor Neil Abercrombie.

Those who worked closely on the land deal, including the governor, deserve credit for coming to an agreement that helps to protect a beautiful area that means so much to so many people. However, the $48.5 million deal itself was only a partial solution that did not offer a sound financing plan as to where such a sizeable amount of money would come from without significantly impacting Hawaii’s taxpayers.

“The agreement required $40 million in new general obligation bonds, coming just days before the deadline for the budget conference to conclude, would mean that many worthy community priorities would be cut or that only part of the agreement would be funded, effectively killing the deal,” Senator Ige said. “These would include projects such as the UH Hilo School of Pharmacy, the Waimea Middle School science and technology center, public school classrooms, athletic facilities, and air-conditioning, improvements to the public hospitals, and the Kona Courthouse.” He added, “Against the ticking clock of the budget deadline, the plan I proposed, which was passed by the Legislature and signed into law today by the Governor, is a new way to protect and preserve important legacy land in our quest to keep Hawaii special.”

While legislative conference committees were in overdrive and within 48 hours, Senator Ige fully analyzed Turtle Bay funding options and developed the innovative solution to provide funding by refinancing existing Hawaii Convention Center bonds. This approach has zero impact on the state’s annual bonding authority and avoids additional taxes and fees from being imposed on Hawaii taxpayers. The money will immediately secure the negotiated conservation easement with Honolulu County providing $5 million and the Trust for Public Land another $3.5 million.

“Instead of using funds that would go to school and other public buildings, visitors will pay to preserve this special land for generations to come. This continues our initiative to have visitors pay for improvements that have direct benefits to residents,” added Senator Ige.

Senator Ige’s plan restructures the debt currently owed on the Hawaii Convention Center, calling for $33 million of the transient accommodations tax (TAT) that currently goes to the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) to pay for debt services and operating costs to be restructured so that interest payments drop from $26 million to $16 million.

The plan authorizes $40 million in revenue bonds with a portion of the interest savings from the Hawaii Convention Center debt going to pay for the new bonds instead of taking capital improvement (CIP) funds away from priority community projects such as upgrading public schools. Senator Ige also sees his plan as an opportunity for the state to use the TAT in ways that show residents and visitors the direct impact of TAT revenues, including core infrastructure improvements and the preservation of natural resources.

“I am happy that my plan was approved by the Legislature and that we were able to preserve Turtle Bay lands forever,” Senator Ige said. “A good leader needs to be creative, innovative and fair to come up with solutions that balance the will of the people with fiscal responsibility. Without that balance, everyone loses.”

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GOVERNOR SIGNS BILL PROTECTING TURTLE BAY LANDS FROM DEVELOPMENT IN PERPETUITY

(From left:) North Shore Community Leader Denise Antolini, The Trust for Public Land Director Lea Hong, Attorney General David M. Louie, Turtle Bay Resort CEO Drew Stotesbury, Gov. Abercrombie, North Shore Community Land Trust Executive Director Doug Cole, Sen. Clayton Hee, City & County of Honolulu Chief of Staff Ray Soon and Gov. Abercrombie’s Deputy Chief of Staff Blake Oshiro

News Release from Office of the Governor, May 19, 2014

KAHUKU, Hawaii – Gov. Neil Abercrombie today signed House Bill 2434 (Act 81), a landmark proposal to establish a conservation easement preserving 665.8 acres of land owned by Turtle Bay Resort (TBR).

Act 81, which takes effect July 1, authorizes the Hawaii Tourism Authority to issue $40 million in revenue bonds and use the proceeds to acquire a conservation easement at TBR.

The measure will allow for the preservation of nearly 79 percent of the open space land owned by the resort. The total value of this agreement is $48.5 million; $40 million will be provided by the state, $5 million will be provided by the City and County of Honolulu, and $3.5 million will be provided by The Trust for Public Land.

“Today marks the culmination of years of effort among the state, city, The Trust for Public Land and Turtle Bay Resort to protect the future of the North Shore for future generations,” Gov. Abercrombie said. “I am pleased my administration was able to play a positive role in bringing the Turtle Bay issue to a successful conclusion. The result will keep the country, country. It will protect pristine coastlines from development, and provide open space and access for everyone.”

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