HI SR130

Congress passed the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act in 1921, dedicating 203,000 acres of land in Hawaii to benefit Native Hawaiians, with approximately 10,000 homesteads settled and nearly 28,000 beneficiaries remaining on the waitlist.

The 2019 Hawaii Housing Planning Study found that only 11 percent of Native Hawaiian households (12,755) were living on Hawaiian homestead land, while 20 percent of Native Hawaiian households had at least one member on the waitlist.

The Hawaiian Homes Commission is urged to work with beneficiaries to maximize utilization of trust lands, consult beneficiaries before disposing of Hawaiian home lands, refrain from establishing additional lease criteria without consultation, and conduct auctions of properties to the waitlist at least twice per year.

The Hawaiian Homes Commission is urged to notify beneficiaries of interest and earnings credited to Hawaiian Home Operating Fund or Hawaiian Home Receipts Fund, provide quarterly reports to the Legislature on property inventory and disposition status, and maintain a listing of formerly leased properties on its website.

The Hawaiian Homes Commission is requested to submit a report on its efforts to improve beneficiary access to Hawaiian home lands and trust assets, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the 2021 Regular Session.