HB 1236 Summary

• Establishes a Makua Valley Task Force within the Department of Land and Natural Resources to prepare for management transition of the Makua Military Reservation from the United States Army when General Lease No. S-3848 expires on August 16, 2029.

• Task force membership includes the chairperson of the board of land and natural resources, a member of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs board of trustees, and representatives from the legislature, evicted families, aha moku advisory committee, three non-profit organizations with Makua expertise, and native Hawaiian organizations, plus a U.S. Army Pacific representative.

• Task force shall negotiate with the U.S. Army on expedited valley return, cleanup of unexploded ordnance, and expanded cultural access opportunities.

• Goal is to transfer Makua lands to the State as a public land trust, with eventual management transfer to the sovereign native Hawaiian entity upon its U.S. and State recognition.

• Task force members serve without compensation but receive reimbursement for actual expenses; task force must report findings and recommendations to the legislature by 20 days prior to the 2020 regular session and ceases to exist six months after the lease expires in August 2029.