STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3374

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1307

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1307, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for water well development for geophysical investigation, exploration, and identification of geothermal resources on Hawaiian home lands.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Association of Hawaiians for Homestead Lands, Sustainable Energy Hawaiʻi, Mokupuni Community Development Corporation, and one individual.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Green Party of Hawaiʻi, Geothermal Neighbors, Na Wai Hoʻola Nui Laʻau Lapaʻau Foundation, Malu ʻAina Center for Non-violent Education and Action, and thirty individuals.

Your Committees find that the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is currently in the exploration and investigation phase of development of geothermal resources on its trust lands. The University of Hawaii has undertaken work to identify several sites in the State where the probability of finding viable geothermal resources warrants further investigation. This measure would enable the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to responsibly advance geothermal resource development as a long-term revenue-generating strategy for the support of beneficiaries.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language to establish the Geothermal Revolving Fund for the purpose of providing loans for water well development for geophysical investigation, exploration, and identification of geothermal resources on Hawaiian home lands, subject to certain conditions;

(2) Replacing the blank appropriation to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands with an appropriation of $6,000,000 to be deposited into the Geothermal Revolving Fund;

(3) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1307, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1307, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs,

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair

________________________________ HERBERT M. RICHARDS, III, Chair