STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1885-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.R. No. 115

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.R. No. 115 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS AND STATEWIDE OFFICE ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING SOLUTIONS TO DEVELOP A COORDINATED SUPPORT AND STABILIZATION PATHWAY FOR NATIVE HAWAIIAN BENEFICIARIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR EXTREMELY LOW INCOME,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure to request the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to develop a coordinated support and stabilization pathway for native Hawaiian beneficiaries who have an extremely low income or are experiencing homelessness

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

Your Committee finds that there exists a large pool of Department of Hawaiian Home Lands beneficiaries who are experiencing housing insecurity in stark contrast to those beneficiaries who have received property and attained housing security. Your Committee recognizes that providing homes for beneficiaries is the obligation of the department. The economic status of beneficiaries is drastically affected when this obligation is unfulfilled and drastically altered when it is achieved and housing is delivered. Your Committee believes that if the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions coordinate their efforts, both organizations would be able to fulfill their respective obligations to a greater degree. Your Committee also supports the plan laid out in the measure, which would provide tiny homes for temporary housing to beneficiaries while they wait for their permanent housing to be delivered by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 115 and recommends its adoption.

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

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair