The Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the state went through more than a decade of negotiations to finally reach the landmark $200 million ceded lands settlement announced Jan. 18, but it has taken just days for lawmakers to raise serious reservations about the agreement.

The settlement, which calls for three large parcels of land to be transferred by the state to OHA along with $13 million cash, must be approved by the state Legislature. The parcels are in Kaka'ako and Kalaeloa on O'ahu, and Hilo on the Big Island.

Even the most critical of lawmakers said they are sincere about wanting to approve a settlement. But from the amount of land and money involved to whether the settlement would leave open the possibility of future claims, the questions being raised are complex, varied and not easily answered.

OHA officials, following criticism that they have not tried to seek input from their Native Hawaiian constituency, are starting a public informational campaign that will include meetings statewide, putting the bill and related information on the Internet and even the unusual step of calling constituents to let them know about the proposal.