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HRS §180-13

What soil and water conservation districts can do

This section lists the powers of a soil and water conservation district and its directors. They can study, teach, and demonstrate soil and water conservation, work with others, buy and manage property, build structures, make plans, accept donations, sue, and require landowners to help with projects. They can also form groups and appoint non-voting assistant directors.

landowners

The statute, as written — Powers of districts and directors

A district organized under this chapter, and the directors thereof, shall have, in addition to other powers granted in this chapter, the power to: (1) Provide for and encourage surveys, investigations, and research relating to soil and water conservation, and publish and disseminate information concerning such subjects; (2) Provide for and encourage demonstrations relative to control and prevention of erosion and conservation of soil and water resources, and carry out preventive and control measures, on publicly owned lands within the district with the consent of the agency having jurisdiction thereof, and on other lands with the consent of the occupier of the lands; (3) Cooperate or enter into agreements with, and furnish financial or other aid, including machinery, equipment, fertilizer, seeds, and other material, to any agency or any occupier of lands within the district, for carrying on soil and water control conservation and operations, subject to such conditions as the directors may deem necessary; (4) Acquire property, real or personal, or rights or interest therein; maintain, administer, and improve the property, receive income from it, and expend the income in carrying out the purposes of this chapter; and sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of any of such property; (5) Construct, improve, and maintain any structures necessary for carrying out the purposes of this chapter; (6) Develop plans for conservation of soil and water resources and control and prevention of erosion within the district, and publish or otherwise bring them to the attention of district land occupiers; (7) Accept contributions in money, services, materials or otherwise from any source, and use or expend them in carrying out its operations; (8) Sue and be sued; have a seal, which seal shall be judicially noticed; and make and execute any necessary contracts or other instruments; (9) As a condition to the extending of benefits, or the performance of work upon lands under this chapter, require land occupiers to contribute money, services, materials, or otherwise to any operations conferring such benefits, and impose any other reasonable conditions therefor; (10) Form associations to coordinate their policies, objectives, and actions, with power to create staffs, set policies, obtain and administer soil and water conservation district program funds, provide surety bonds, coordinate soil and water conservation district projects, and conduct director training. Other powers shall require the approval of the districts; and (11) Appoint associate directors to aid districts, but without director voting powers.
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.