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WAIALUA, Hawaii (KHON) — A controversial proposal to build a gondola on Oʻahu’s North Shore is officially off the table after Gov. Josh Green signed House Bill 1881 into law on Friday.
The new law prohibits private passenger or cargo ropeways — including gondolas, cable cars, ski lifts and aerial tramways — from being built in Hawaiʻi. Government entities are exempt only if a project receives approval from the state Legislature.
The legislation was introduced by North Shore Representative Sean Quinlan in response to a proposal to build a gondola at Kaukonahua Ranch on the slopes of Mount Kaʻala. The project drew years of opposition from residents, Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners, environmental advocates, and community organizations who argued it would damage the area’s cultural significance, natural landscape and agricultural character.
“I think this is a big win for local communities. This is a big win for Native Hawaiian self-determination, and I think it’s a strong message that people from lord knows where can’t come to Hawaiʻi and build lord knows what,” Quinlan said after Governor Green signed the measure.
“We don’t want these gondolas, ski lifts taking people up the side of mountains because it’s not an appropriate use of land. It is a blight on our natural landscape and it’s an invitation for people to create more theme parks,” Quinlan added.
Community members who fought the proposal celebrated Friday’s signing.
“We’re elated,” said North Shore Neighborhood Board Vice Chair Racquel Achiu. “It really shows that when your community comes together and stands strong, things can happen. You can impact it, and you can have a say in what your future is in the place that you live.”
Earlier this week, Honolulu’s Department of Planning and Permitting also issued an 80-page reconsideration of the project’s 2019 Conditional Use Permit, concluding the proposed gondola was not accessory to agricultural activity and is no longer permitted. The department determined agricultural portions of the project remain conditionally approved.
The advocacy group Keep the North Shore Country also applauded the governor’s action, calling it a victory for community advocacy and responsible land stewardship.
The organization thanked Governor Green, Representative Quinlan, the Honolulu City Council, neighborhood boards, the Kupaʻa Kaʻala Alliance and residents who opposed the project. In a statement, the group said officials “stepped up to correct the error of the 2019 approval.”
Achiu said that while the gondola proposal is now prohibited, future development proposals on the property will continue to face public scrutiny.
“The North Shore has been under siege for years,” Achiu said. “We have developers at every turn eating up our ag lands… You can’t come in here and buy ag land, assuming you’re going to be able to do whatever you want. You’ll be held to compliance and appropriate stewardship.”
A representative for Kaukonahua Ranch declined to comment when reached by Nexstar’s KHON.
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