An Act to authorize and direct the exchanges and sales of public lands within or adjacent to the district of Puna, county of Hawaii, Territory of Hawaii, for the relief of persons whose lands were destroyed be volcanic activity
PL 84-844 (H.R.7891), enacted 07/30/1956

728 
PUBLIC LAW 844-JULY 30, 1956 
[70 S T A T . 
49 Stat. 1577. 
exceed fifty years, as he may deem reasonable, for the use of not to ex-
ceed fifteen thousand four hundred acre-feet of stora^ space in the 
Hulah Reservoir, for the purpose of providing such city a regulated 
water supply. 
(b) The project for the Hulah Reservoir on the Caney River, 
authorized by the Act entitled "An Act authorizing the construction of 
certain public works on rivers and harbors for flood control, and for 
other purposes"', approved June 22,1936, is hereby modified in accord-
ance with the provisions of this Act. 
(c) All moneys received by the Chief of Engineers pursuant to this 
Act shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States as miscel-
laneous receipts. 
(d) Nothing in this Act shall affect water rights under State law. 
Approved July 80, 1956. 
Public Law 844 
CHAPTER 788 
July 30, 1956 
[H. R. 7891] 
Hawaii. 
E x c h a n g e 
lands. 
of 
Sale of lands. 
Applications. 
Effective date. 
AN ACT 
To authorize and direct the exchanges and sales of public lands within or adja-
cent to the district of Puna, county of Hawaii, Territory of Hawaii, for the 
relief of persons whose lands were destroyed by volcanic activity. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and Hoitse of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That the Commis-
sioner of Public Lands of the Territory of Hawaii is authorized and 
directed to exchange public lands within or adjacent to the district of 
Puna, county of Hawaii, Territory of Hawaii, for lands within the 
county of Hawaii destroyed by volcanic activity occurring during 
March and April 1955. The Territory may not convey lands exceed-
ing forty acres in area or $5,000 in value. For the purposes of the 
exchange the destroyed lands are to be appraised at the market value 
just prior to the time of destruction, but the value of improvements 
such as crops and buildings shall be excluded therefrom. 
SEC. 2. After the limits of exchange have been exhausted the Com-
missioner is authorized to sell to those who have been unable to re-
place all the lands destroyed public lands within or adjacent to the 
district of Puna, county of Hawaii, Territory of Hawaii, not exceed-
ing eighty acres in area, or the area of destroyed land, whichever is 
less, deducting therefrom the area conveyed by the Territory by ex-
change as provided in section 1. Such a sale shall be made without 
{mblic auction, drawing or lot or the approval of the board of public 
ands. 
SEC. 3. If the lessor of any destroyed lands should fail to exchange 
or purchase lands to replace his destroyed lands, his lessee may pur-
chase under the provisions of this Act public lands not exceeding 
eighty acres in area or the area of destroyed land leased by him, which-
ever IS less. 
SEC. 4. In order to come within the provisions of this Act, persons 
must file applications showing the area and approximate value of 
lands, owned or leased by them, which were destroyed by volcanic 
activity, within two years of the date of approval of this Act. 
SEC. 5. Except as changed herein, all applicable provisions of the 
Organic Act oi Hawaii remain in force. 
SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect on and after the date of its 
approval. 
Approved July 30, 1956.