Hawaii House Bill HB855

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/23/25
• Refer: 1/23/25

Caption

Relating To Hawaiian Home Lands.

Impact

The implications of HB855 are significant as it modifies existing legal frameworks governing the use and transfer of Hawaiian home lands. By facilitating the transfer of waitlist positions, the bill enhances opportunities for beneficiaries who may have otherwise faced delays in accessing land. This legislative change aims to foster community stability and continuity, particularly among families associated with these lands. The bill seeks to reaffirm the commitment to support native Hawaiians in securing their rightful access to homesteading opportunities.

Summary

House Bill 855 aims to address important provisions concerning the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920 by allowing living beneficiaries of Hawaiian home lands to transfer their place on the waitlist to a successor upon their death. This bill is particularly significant for those awaiting offers for residential, agricultural, or pastoral tracts, as it ensures continuity for native Hawaiian beneficiaries in land allocation matters. Each appointed successor must be at least twenty-five percent native Hawaiian, thus honoring the intent of maintaining land for native Hawaiian descendants.

Contention

Notable points of contention arise from varying perspectives on land use and eligibility criteria. While supporters argue that the bill provides necessary support to native Hawaiians and promotes the effective use of land resources, critics may raise concerns regarding the potential for creating unequal access based on ancestry criteria. This intensifies the ongoing discussions around land rights and the effectiveness of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act in addressing the needs of all native Hawaiians fairly.