Hawaii Governor Josh Green has signed Act 172, a new state law that prohibits the construction and operation of commercial gondolas, cable cars, and ropeways across the islands. The legislation was introduced and passed in response to a contentious proposal by Kaukonahua Ranch to build a gondola on Mount Kaala, located on Oahu's North Shore.
For years, residents and environmental advocates protested the ranch's plan, expressing concerns that it would desecrate the mountainside and exacerbate traffic issues. Longtime project opponent Racquel Achiu described the passage of the law as an emotional victory, emphasizing the community's successful effort to prevent the development. Gil Riviere, another opponent, stated that the project was unsuitable for the area and would have negatively impacted the environment and infrastructure.
The city's Department of Planning and Permitting had previously deemed Kaukonahua Ranch's gondola proposal unsuitable, effectively halting its progress. While the gondola aspect of the project has been definitively rejected by the new law, Riviere indicated that other agricultural components of the ranch's development might still be considered, though community members plan to closely monitor any future proposals.
