Hawaii House Bill HR145

Hawaii 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/11/22
• Refer: 3/14/22

Caption

Requesting The Department Of Hawaiian Home Lands To Establish A Working Group To Return Crown Lands To Native Hawaiians.

Impact

The establishment of the working group is intended to identify and prioritize the Crown lands that should be returned, as well as to determine which entities would manage these lands moving forward. This initiative is grounded in the recognition of Native Hawaiians’ historical and cultural ties to the land and is seen as a step towards fostering self-determination and equity for Native Hawaiian people. It introduces a framework that aligns with previous amendments to the Hawaii State Constitution aimed at addressing these historic injustices.

Summary

House Resolution 145 requests the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to establish a working group dedicated to the return of Crown Lands to Native Hawaiians. The resolution emphasizes the historical context of the land seizure, tracing back to the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893 and subsequent annexation by the United States, which resulted in over one million acres of lands being ceded without consent or compensation to the Hawaiian people. The intent of HR145 is to heal and rectify historical grievances towards the Native Hawaiian community regarding land ownership and management.

Contention

While HR145 aims to rectify historical injustices, it is not without contention. Potential opposition may arise from concerns about the management of the returned lands and what criteria would be used to determine the prioritization of certain lands over others. Furthermore, the logistics of transferring management responsibilities to local entities could lead to disputes over governance and the defining of eligibility for beneficiaries. As the working group sets out to report its findings, the dialogue surrounding these issues will be crucial in determining the feasibility and acceptance of the proposed measures.