STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1853-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.R. No. 77

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 Water & Land, to which was referred H.R. No. 77, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO TRANSFER PARCELS THAT MAKE UP THE EAST KAPOLEI TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT PROJECT TO THE HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND URGING THE HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO PARTNER WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS AND HAWAII COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF NON-HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PORTIONS OF THE PROJECT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Department of Land and Natural Resources to transfer parcels that make up the East Kapolei Transit-Oriented Development Project to the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and urge the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to partner with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and Hawaii Community Development Authority to facilitate the development of non-housing community development portions of the project.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from UNITE HERE Local 5. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Office of Planning and Sustainable Development.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation is the state agency best positioned to undertake the East Kapolei Transit‑Oriented Development Project because of its core housing‑related mission, relevant expertise, and established partnership with the Hawaii Community Development Authority for infrastructure and mixed‑use development. Your Committee further finds that this measure reflects a smart, coordinated, and mission-aligned approach that promotes coordination and collaboration among various state agencies to advance the State's goal of producing a greater quantity of affordable housing in Hawaii.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 77, H.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair