Public invited to comment on changes to lava buyout program

Members of the public can offer comments on proposed changes to the county’s Voluntary Housing Buyout Program until May 3.

The county on Monday introduced a series of proposed amendments to its program — which allows owners of properties isolated, damaged or destroyed during the 2018 Kilauea eruption to sell them to the county — and opened a 30-day period for public comment.

Those changes include reducing the maximum payout for undeveloped properties from $230,000 to $22,000, delaying the third and final phase of the program from May to July, cancelling the county’s Housing Relocation Services program, and shifting the relocation services budget to the buyout program.

A virtual public meeting about the changes will be held from 3-5 p.m. on April 18.

The full text of the amendment, a form to submit comments, and a link to register for the meeting can be found at recovery.hawaiicounty.gov.