January 20, 2008	Sunday	Muharram 10, 1429

HONOLULU, Jan 19: More than 200 acres (80 hectares) of land that once belonged to the Kingdom of Hawaii will be returned to Native Hawaiians, according to terms of a $200 million tentative settlement.

The land to be turned over includes about 80 acres (32 hectares) of the Big Island resort area on Banyon Drive in Hilo, which is currently occupied by several hotels and a golf course.

The agreement is intended to end a long-running dispute over ceded lands that started when the United States government took control of them a century ago.

Under the deal announced on Friday, three commercial and industrial properties on Oahu and the Big Island worth $187 million will be transferred from the state of Hawaii to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and the state government will also make a $13 million cash payment to the agency that looks out for Hawaiians.

The pact will finally bring an end to fighting, legal squabbles and inaction over ceded lands, said Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chairwoman Haunani Apoliona.—AP