HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

230

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO CONVENE A HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS IMPROVEMENT WORKING GROUP.

 

 


     WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii and its residents are facing a housing crisis; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920, was enacted in 1921; and

 

     WHEREAS, the intent of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act was to enable native Hawaiians to return to their lands and become self-sufficient by granting them leases for Hawaiian home lands; and

 

     WHEREAS, since 1921, only nine thousand eight hundred Hawaiian home land leases have been issued for qualifying native Hawaiians; and

 

     WHEREAS, native Hawaiians are the largest homeless demographic in the State and suffer from a myriad of health problems; and

 

     WHEREAS, there is a collective desire among policymakers, beneficiaries, and applicants on the Hawaiian home lands waitlist to reform the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and fulfill the wishes of Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole; and

 

     WHEREAS, interested parties need to come together and find solutions to help native Hawaiians obtain leases on Hawaiian home lands; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2019, the Senate concurring, that the Governor, or the Governor's designee, is requested to convene and serve as the Chair of a Hawaiian Home Lands Improvement Working Group; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following officials, or their respective designees, are requested to serve as members of the working group:

 

     (1)  Two members, including the Chairperson, of the Hawaiian Homes Commission;

 

     (2)  The Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs;

 

     (3)  The President of the Senate;

 

     (4)  The Speaker of the House of Representatives;

 

     (5)  The President of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs;

 

     (6)  The Chairperson of the Sovereign Councils of the Hawaiian Homelands Assembly; and

 

     (7)  The Chairperson of the Broken Promises Working Group; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaiian Home Lands Improvement Working Group is requested to:

 

     (1)  Consider and make recommendations on improving the efficiency and output of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; and

 

     (2)  Develop a plan to significantly reduce the length of time that qualified applicants for Hawaiian home lands leases wait until they become lessees; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaiian Home Lands Improvement Working Group is requested to make all of its meetings open to the general public; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaiian Home Lands Improvement Working Group is requested to submit to the Legislature its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2020; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaiian Home Lands Improvement Working Group shall cease to exist after June 30, 2020; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chairperson of the Sovereign Councils of the Hawaiian Homelands Assembly, President of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, and Chairperson of the Broken Promises Working Group.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Improvement; Working Group