H.R. 255 Summary

• Requests Department of Hawaiian Home Lands provide data on homestead awards from 2000-2010, including breakdowns by residential, pastoral, agricultural, and aquacultural categories, plus vacant improved lots, improved homes, self-help builds, and undivided interest awards.

• Requires data on annual funding expended to improve lots with infrastructure and type of funding sources (general, special, trust, federal) broken down by homestead type, including utility costs and homes built under turn-key, self-help, and owner-builder strategies.

• Directs Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to submit requested data to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2012 Regular Session.

• Expresses concern that the Department has failed to adequately fund homestead programs despite constitutional mandate in Article XII, Section 1, and has diverted trust lands to commercial uses instead of serving native Hawaiian homesteaders.