Hawaii's Gov. Josh Green signed House Bill 1881 into law Friday, officially blocking a proposal to build a gondola on Oʻahu's North Shore and establishing a statewide ban on private ropeway projects. The new law prohibits private passenger or cargo ropeways — including gondolas, cable cars, ski lifts and aerial tramways — from being constructed in the state. Government entities remain exempt only if a project receives approval from the state Legislature.
The legislation was introduced by North Shore Representative Sean Quinlan in response to a years-long proposal to build a gondola at Kaukonahua Ranch on the slopes of Mount Kaʻala, Oʻahu's highest peak. The project faced sustained opposition from residents, Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners, environmental advocates and community organizations who argued it would damage the area's cultural significance, natural landscape and agricultural character.
What the Left Is Saying
Representative Quinlan celebrated the governor's signature, calling the outcome a victory for local communities and Native Hawaiian self-determination. "I think this is a big win for local communities. This is a big win for Native Hawaiian self-determination, and I think it's a strong message that people from lord knows where can't come to Hawaiʻi and build lord knows what," Quinlan said at the signing ceremony.
North Shore Neighborhood Board Vice Chair Racquel Achiu, who opposed the project, said community members were elated by the outcome. "It really shows that when your community comes together and stands strong, things can happen. You can impact it, and you can have a say in what your future is in the place that you live," Achiu said.
The advocacy group Keep the North Shore Country issued a statement calling it a victory for community advocacy and responsible land stewardship. The organization thanked Governor Green, Representative Quinlan, the Honolulu City Council, neighborhood boards, the Kupaʻa Kaʻala Alliance and residents who opposed the project, saying officials "stepped up to correct the error of the 2019 approval."
Achiu emphasized that future development proposals on the property would continue to face scrutiny. "The North Shore has been under siege for years," she said. "We have developers at every turn eating up our ag lands... You can't come in here and buy ag land, assuming you're going to be able to do whatever you want."
What the Right Is Saying
Supporters of development projects on agricultural land often argue that such investments can bring economic benefits, create jobs and support local tourism infrastructure. Proponents have previously contended that well-designed recreational facilities can coexist with agricultural preservation when properly regulated.
In this case, representatives for Kaukonahua Ranch declined to comment following the governor's action. The ranch had pursued permits for the gondola project over several years before the legislation was enacted.
Some development advocates maintain that private investment in infrastructure can provide alternatives to government-funded projects and attract visitors who support local businesses. Critics of the new law may argue it limits property rights or restricts potential economic growth opportunities on private land.
What the Numbers Show
House Bill 1881 applies statewide, affecting any future proposals for private gondolas, cable cars, ski lifts or aerial tramways in Hawaii. Government entities are exempt only with explicit Legislative approval.
Earlier this week, Honolulu's Department of Planning and Permitting issued an 80-page reconsideration of the project's 2019 Conditional Use Permit, concluding that a proposed gondola was not accessory to agricultural activity and therefore no longer permitted under existing zoning. The department determined that agricultural portions of the project remain conditionally approved.
The North Shore area of Oʻahu has seen ongoing tension between development pressures and community preservation efforts, with several major projects facing opposition in recent years.
The Bottom Line
With Governor Green signing House Bill 1881 into law, the gondola proposal at Kaukonahua Ranch is officially prohibited. Developers seeking to build similar ropeway infrastructure in Hawaii will now face a statewide ban on private projects, with government exemptions requiring Legislative sign-off. The outcome marks a significant regulatory shift for development proposals in the state and underscores the growing influence of community organizations in shaping land use policy on Oʻahu.