Urging Hawaii's Congressional Delegation To Re-introduce And Support The Passage Of The Hawaiian Home Lands Preservation Act, H.r. Res. 9614, 117th Cong. (2nd Sess. 2022), To Lower The Required Minimum Blood Quantum For Certain Department Of Hawaiian Home Lands Successor Lessee Beneficiaries From One-quarter Native Hawaiian Blood To One Thirty-second.
The resolution emphasizes the significant impact of current blood quantum requirements that may soon exclude potential new applicants from the Hawaiian Homes Commission program, thereby frustrating its original intent. By lowering the minimum requirement, SR93 aims to address the increasing challenges of interracial marriages affecting the blood quantum status of applicants. Currently, there are about 28,700 beneficiaries waiting for residential, agricultural, or pastoral leases, and this resolution seeks to rectify that by ensuring the laws reflect the growing diversity within the native Hawaiian population.
Senate Resolution 93 (SR93) calls on Hawaii's congressional delegation to reintroduce and advocate for the passage of the Hawaiian Home Lands Preservation Act, specifically H.R. Res. 9614. This Act seeks to amend the existing minimum blood quantum requirement for certain successor lessees of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands from one-quarter native Hawaiian blood to just one thirty-second. This change is aimed at expanding eligibility for the Hawaiian homesteading program, which has been essential for the rehabilitation and support of native Hawaiian individuals through government-led housing initiatives since the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920.
The sentiment surrounding SR93 appears to be largely supportive, with clear recognition of the pressing need for reform within the context of Hawaiian homesteading. Legislators have highlighted the urgency of addressing the blood quantum issue to avoid further frustration for waitlisted beneficiaries. The resolution reflects a commitment to uphold the fiduciary duty of both state and federal governments towards the rehabilitation of the Hawaiian people, aligning legal frameworks with the realities of contemporary Hawaiian society.
One of the notable points of contention may arise in the broader implications of altering blood quantum regulations. Critics may argue that changes to the requirements could dilute the cultural and identity framework established for the benefits conferred by the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act. However, proponents of SR93 maintain that aligning the blood quantum with effective statutes is essential for fulfilling the original objective of the homesteading program, ensuring that all eligible native Hawaiians can access the benefits intended for them.