Nearly 500 people packed Kahuku High School's cafeteria tonight, to talk story with the Governor about the proposal to purchase and preserve the Turtle Bay property.

The purpose of tonight's meeting was to exchange information, between the Governor and community members, so that everyone attending would have a better understanding of the issues.

No doubt this area next to Turtle Bay Resort is an island treasure.

Grassroots groups have made it clear, they want to preserve the 850-acre Turtle Bay property, but Kuilima Resort Company, which owns the property, wants to build five new hotels here with 3,500 units.

The Governor suggested in January the state could purchase the property and thus preserve the land.

"Our goal is a dual goal really is to preserve the economic entity of the existing resort, the jobs that it provides, as well the opportunities for people who use resort, but also to plant our flag in the sand on this one," said Gov. Linda Lingle.

Many of the people who turned out for this talk story session with the Governor are either environmentalists, or are worried about the possibility that Hawaiian bones might be buried along the coastline.

"That foundation is the ground upon which developers want to build the resting place of my kupuna."

But there were also many others who showed up, who haven't spoken out before.

"I'm 15, I go to Kahuku. I want to say thank you, Governor Lingle, thanks for thinking of us, the young people of Hawaii."

Kuilima Resort Company has said it owes its lenders at least $400-million, so the state would need to come up with at least that amount to purchase the property.

If the state condemns the property instead, it could face huge lawsuits from the lenders.

Although the grassroots groups want no development, would would they be willing to compromise -- if the developer were to build fewer units instead, thus preserving much of the coastline?

"The best way I can answer that is the hotel has been asked all along the way would you guys be willing to scale back your resort and every time they said no absolutely not, they're going to build the whole thing," said Gil Riviere of Keep the North Shore Country.

"Anything is possible," said Mark Cunningham of the Defend Oahu Coalition.

There is a Senate bill that directs the Governor to acquire the Turtle Bay property, either by purchasing it, condemning it, or by participating in a cooperative agreement.

The Governor said that Senate bill was passed today. It'll now cross over to the House.