STAND. COM. REP. NO.  75

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1841

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1841 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PUBLIC LANDS TRUST,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to lay the foundation for a fair and just settlement between the State and the native Hawaiian people on the claims of the native Hawaiian people to the ceded lands by:

 

(1)  Prohibiting the sale, exchange, or other permanent transfer of lands in the public lands trust to a private entity;

 

(2)  Requiring the Department of Land and Natural Resources to make an inventory of lands in the public lands trust; and

 

(3)  Appropriating funds for the inventory to be matched by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

 

     The Hawaiian Political Action Council of Hawaii, Na Koa Ikaika o Ka Lahui Hawaii, Ko'olau Foundation, Aha Kiole Advisory Committee, Life of the Land, Sovereign Councils of the Hawaiian Homelands Assembly, Kamehameha Schools, Malama Kauai, Ko'olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club, Kako'o O'iwi, and numerous concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Office of Hawaiian Affairs supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of the Attorney General opposed this bill.  Comments were submitted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

 

     Although a complete inventory of ceded lands may be necessary for the resolution of ceded lands claims, there are concerns about the cost of that inventory.  Your Committee finds that these issues must continue to be discussed as this measure moves through the legislative process.

 

     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. 1841 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committees on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources and Judiciary.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MELE CARROLL, Chair