STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3888

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 196

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 196 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION TO CONSULT BENEFICIARIES OF THE HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION ACT REGARDING ALTERNATIVE WAITLIST AND AWARD PRIORITIZATION BASED ON LINEAL AND GENERATIONAL DESCENDANCY FOR HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS LOCATED IN HANA, MAUI,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Hawaiian Homes Commission to consult beneficiaries of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, as amended, regarding alternative waitlist and award prioritization based upon lineal and generational descendancy for Hawaiian Home Lands located in Hana, Maui.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from two individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

Your Committee finds that there remains an extensive waitlist of native Hawaiian beneficiaries attempting to obtain leases of Hawaiian Home Lands. Under current practice, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands gives priority to persons on the waitlist based upon their dates of application. Your Committee further finds that basing waitlist prioritization and awards on lineal and generational descendance may be a more culturally appropriate option, especially in rural and remote areas where higher concentrations of these descendants remain. Your Committee therefore believes that the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands should consult beneficiaries regarding this alternative waitlist and award prioritization which would help the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to mitigate risks as the Department develops new projects and awards new lots in rural areas.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 196, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 196, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Hawaiian Affairs,

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MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair