HI SR6

Requests the State Auditor to conduct a performance audit of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), focusing on mission fulfillment, operational efficiency, resource use, and the effectiveness of the Hawaiian Homes Commission.

More than 29,000 applicants remain on DHHL's waitlist for homestead lands, and at least 2,100 beneficiaries have died while waiting for their homestead awards.

The 2022 appropriation of $600 million through Act 279 to reduce the waitlist has produced few lots and homesteads compared to original plans.

The audit must include analysis of staffing, infrastructure, and funding adequacy, along with recommendations for improvements and implementation timelines.

The Auditor is requested to submit findings and recommendations no later than twenty days before the Regular Session of 2027.