THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

177

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

URGing the department of hawaiian home lands to improve access to hawaiian home lands and other trust assets to its NATIVE HAWAIIAN beneficiaries.

 

 

     WHEREAS, the United States Congress passed the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act in 1921, which was authored by Prince Kuhio Kalanianaole, and which dedicated 203,000 acres of land in Hawaii to benefit native Hawaiians; and

 

     WHEREAS, the purpose of the Act was, and is, to restore the cultural link between native Hawaiians and the land and to provide native Hawaiians the stability, financial equity, and economic self-sufficiency that comes from land and home ownership; and

 

     WHEREAS, since the Act was signed into law almost one hundred years ago, fewer than one hundred thousand homesteads have been resettled and nearly twenty-eight thousand beneficiaries remain on the waitlist; and

 

     WHEREAS, for the future of native Hawaiians and their well-being, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands must fulfill its purpose by providing housing and information on housing to its native Hawaiian beneficiaries; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2020, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Hawaiian Homes Commission is urged to take the following actions in order to improve access to Hawaiian home lands and other trust assets to its native Hawaiian beneficiaries:

 

     (1)  Work with beneficiaries and beneficiary organizations to maximize the utilization of trust lands and assets for the benefit of homestead communities, homestead organizations, and beneficiary owned and controlled entities, including but not limited to leases of homestead lands and licenses or operating agreements related to the management of homestead assets;

 

     (2)  Consult beneficiaries in person or via mail, email, social media, or specific notification provided to all beneficiary organizations prior to any disposition of Hawaiian home lands or any improvements including short or long term easements;

 

     (3)  Refrain from establishing any additional criteria for entering into a lease for Hawaiian home lands without notifying beneficiaries through beneficiary consultation, unless otherwise determined through the promulgation of federal regulations;

 

     (4)  For public or mercantile purpose, grant a license or enter into a general lease, unless it conducts beneficiary consultation;

 

     (5)  Notify beneficiaries through beneficiary consultation of any interest or other earnings that may be credited to and deposited into the Hawaiian Home Operating Fund or Hawaiian Home Receipts Fund;

 

     (6)  Provide quarterly reports to the Legislature and beneficiaries that includes data on the inventory of formerly leased properties and disposition status of homestead properties and improvements under the control of the Department;

 

     (7)  Post and maintain the listing of the formerly leased properties on its website and conduct auctions of properties to the waitlist at least twice per year; and

 

     (8)  Negotiate with homestead association governed water agencies to maintain water systems, including water billing, prior to other service providers; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations regarding its efforts to improve beneficiary access to Hawaiian home lands and other trust assets, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2021; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report Title: 

Hawaiian Homes Commission Act; Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Trust Assets; Beneficiaries