LIHU'E – A bill that was unanimously approved by the County Council and signed into law last month by Mayor Bill "Kaipo" Asing reduces real property taxes for qualified kuleana land owners to the minimum annual tax, which is currently $25.

Kuleana lands were granted to native tenants on Kaua'i by King Kamehameha II on

Dec. 21, 1849, and have been passed on to descendents of the original titleholders.

Applications for the kuleana land tax exemption are available on the county website,

www.kauai.gov, and at the Real Property Assessment office located at the Lihu'e Civic Center, Kapule Building, next to the Department of Motor Vehicles.

To qualify for the tax break, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Recorded owner of title.

• Property must be zoned either residential or agriculture.

• Lineal descendent of the person(s) who received the original title.

Genealogy verification is to be provided by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs or court order. Property owner is responsible for costs associated with verification.

Land must be used for ka hale purposes (owner or family-occupied) or agriculture or is vacant.

The annual deadline to file an application for the kuleana land tax exemption is Dec. 31.