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HRS §171-7

What the land board must do

The land board, through its chairperson, must keep track of public lands, stop illegal use or trespassing, remove trespassers and their property, and take back land when needed. It also enforces land contracts, runs auctions and sales, collects money owed for damage, handles lawsuits, keeps public records, and can give oaths.

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The statute, as written — General duties of the board

Except as provided by law, the board of land and natural resources through the chairperson shall: (1) Maintain an accurate inventory of public lands; (2) Prevent illegal activities on, unlawful occupation of, or trespassing on public lands; (3) Cause all trespassers and persons unlawfully occupying public lands, and their effects, and all animals trespassing on the lands to be removed therefrom and to impound the animals according to law; (4) Enter on any public land in order to take possession thereof, and to resume possession of, any public land in case of surrender, forfeiture, or escheat; (5) Enforce contracts respecting sales, leases, licenses, permits, or other disposition of public lands; (6) Conduct all public auctions, lotteries, and sales pertaining to the disposition of public lands and other property authorized by the board; (7) Recover money due the State for damage done to any public lands by wrongful entry and occupation or by wrongful removal therefrom or destruction of any property; (8) Bring actions and proceedings as may be necessary to carry out the powers and duties of the board in the name of the State and defend these actions brought against the State as may be authorized; (9) Keep a record of all official transactions relating to public lands within the chairperson's jurisdiction, which shall be a public record; and (10) Administer oaths in all matters pertaining to the administration of the public lands.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.