Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie has announced a $48.5 million deal to conserve more than 660 acres of Turtle Bay Resort’s land on Oahu’s North Shore.

The agreement would create a 665-acre conservation easement that would be protected from development in perpetuity. 

If the Legislature approves the deal, the state will provide $40 million for the easement. 

The City and County of Honolulu would provide $5 million and the Trust for Public Land would add the final $3.5 million. 

The hotel would still be able to add two new hotels with 625 units and 100 homes but would refrain from building another 650 planned homes. 

Local residents have been fighting the resort’s planned expansion for more than a decade. Click here to read the full story. 

— Anita Hofschneider