STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1317

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2021

 

RE:   H.R. No. 64

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Water & Land and Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.R. No. 64 entitled:

 

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO ASSESS THE STATUS OF ACT 14, SPECIAL SESSION LAWS OF HAWAII 1995,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Land and Natural Resources to convene a working group to assess the status of Act 14, Session Laws of Hawaii 1995 (Act 14), which was intended to provide for a full settlement of all land claims made on behalf of the Hawaiian Home Lands Trust against the State between August 21, 1959, and July 1, 1988.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Sovereign Council of Hawaiian Homestead Associations, Association of Hawaiians for Homestead Lands, a member of the Kauai County Council, and two individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and Office of Planning.

 

     Your Committees find that this measure offers a common-sense approach to trying to resolve an issue that has persisted for over twenty-five years.  Given the length of time that has elapsed since the enactment of Act 14, your Committees urge the working group to focus on actions rather than meetings, with the goal of full implementation of all requirements of Act 14.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water & Land and Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 64 and recommend that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water & Land and Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

 

 

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair

 

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair