Maui Sen. J. Kalani English, whose district includes Hawaiian communities in Hana and Molokai, said he was “very peeved” that he was not one of the state lawmakers briefed on the proposal. He declined comment until he had the details.

“As one of only two Native Hawaiian senators with one of the largest Hawaiian constituencies, I would say it is a bad omen for them that they did not come and talk to us,” English said Friday.