How the county buys land for improvements

In case the improvements so determined under section 12-18 require the acquisition of any new land therefor, the council shall acquire the land before final award of the contract, either by deed, or other voluntary conveyance from the owners thereof, or it may, at its option, and in the name of the County cause condemnation proceedings to be brought to acquire the land. After the filing of the petition in such proceedings the final award of the contract may be made. If the cost of acquiring such land exceeds the estimate therefor, the council may provide for the excess cost by general appropriation. In the event that land has been acquired by condemnation under the provisions of chapter 101, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes and in the award made on the condemnation there has been deducted from the compensation or damages otherwise payable to the landowner, any amount by reason of the fact that land of such landowner not sought to be condemned would be benefited by the construction of improvements proposed to be made after the condemnation, it shall be unlawful to make any assessments against such land under this chapter without having first credited against the amount for which land would otherwise have been assessed the amount that has been deducted in the award made on condemnation for benefits by reason of the construction of improvements proposed to be made after condemnation.