Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga in an exclusive interview with KHJ News via Zoom this morning, gave a detailed explanation of the land that ASG is eyeing to buy in Kunia, Hawaii.
Governor Lemanu made it clear that at this stage the land purchase has not been finalized and that they’re in the due diligence phase, with Attorney General Fainuulelei Alailima Utu and Deputy AG Roy Hall Jr. in Honolulu, to conduct a review of the property being considered.
He said, last year during his trip to Hawaii he met, twice, with the owner of the land, a Vietnamese man. The owner is proposing to sell more than 60 acres of land in Kunia, which is currently zoned for farming; and ASG has shown interest in purchasing it. The cost of the acreage which is next to a golf course is $20 million.
But the Governor repeatedly said that nothing has been finalized…
Elaborating on the reason why he and the Lt. Governor believe the land purchase is a worthwhile investment for American Samoa, Governor Lemanu said that it would generate revenues for the territory. He was also thinking “of our people, who were stuck off island and not able to return home during the COVID pandemic.”
Lemanu said, most don’t have families in Hawaii to stay with so perhaps the government could build accommodations to house them. He also pointed to the medical referrals, many of whom are elderly citizens, who don’t have relatives in Hawaii and cannot afford the cost of accommodations while seeking treatment.
“We were also thinking of our young people attending college in Honolulu, this would be a place for them to stay rather than live with relatives while going to school,” said the Governor.
He clarified that this was an undertaking by the government and there’s no plan to involve the American Samoa Government Employees Retirement Fund.
He said, perhaps it was because the land proposal was discussed with the Fono leaders, that the Retirement Fund Board got into the picture. Senate President Tuaolo M. Fruean is the Chairman of the Fund Board of Trustees.
Lemanu said, he had suggested that on their way to the Retirement Fund meeting in Las Vegas, senators take a look at the Kunia land.
He told KHJ News, the Lt. Governor has inspected the land, and AG Ala’ilima Utu and Deputy AG Hall are currently in Honolulu conducting a review, including whether the Vietnamese man is the rightful owner and whether there are any other hurdles to the land purchase.
The Governor suggested that the identity of the Vietnamese owner not be disclosed to prevent others trying to make deals for the land.
He apologized that his staff didn’t answer KHJ News questions saying, he had given instructions not to release any information until the Fono had been briefed about the proposed land purchase.
