STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3379

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2582

H.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2582, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Amend the membership and responsibilities of the Public Land Trust Working Group established under Act 226, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022;

(2) Require the Working Group to submit four reports to the Legislature as follows:

(A) By August 1, 2027, a first interim report regarding Act 178, Session Laws of Hawaii 2006 (Act 178), financial reporting and accounting;

(B) By December 1, 2027, a second interim report regarding the public land trust inventory;

(C) By June 1, 2028, a third interim report that includes a preliminary draft of findings and recommendations regarding Act 178 financial reporting and accounting and the public land trust inventory; and

(D) By October 1, 2028, a final report that includes proposed legislation; and

(3) Authorize the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to provide administrative support to the Working Group in coordination with a third-party consultant.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, one member of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees, one member of the Kauaʻi County Council, Hawaiian Council, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Moana Ohana, Hawaiʻi District United Methodist Church, Moanalua Gardens Foundation Hawaiʻi, Purple Maiʻa Foundation, Kalihi Pālama Hawaiian Civic Club, Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi, and thirty-two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the annual cap of $21,500,000 allocated to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for the benefit of native Hawaiians may fall short of the statutory amount of twenty percent of revenues generated from the public land trust. This measure would enable the establishment of an accurate public land trust inventory and consistent accounting and reporting to ensure the Office of Hawaiian Affairs receives a fair and accurate share of public land trust revenues.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2582, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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HERBERT M. RICHARDS, III, Chair