STAND. COM. REP. NO. 465-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2309

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2309 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION ACT, 1920,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920, as amended, to include sibling's children as qualifying relatives of lessees for the purposes of lease transfer and lease successorship, in the same manner currently allowed for spouses, children, grandchildren, and siblings.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Hoʻomana Pono, LLC; CARES; and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that this measure amends the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920, as amended, to expand the categories of qualified relatives eligible to receive transfers of, or succeed to, Hawaiian home lands leases to include sibling's children who meet applicable Hawaiian blood quantum requirements. Your Committee further finds that allowing lease transfers and successorship within a broader range of qualified family members promotes continuity of homestead occupancy, reduces the likelihood of lease cancellations, and supports the stability and long-term use of Hawaiian home lands for the benefit of eligible beneficiaries.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2309, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2309, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair