Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 671 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to authorize a homestead lessee who is at least one-quarter Hawaiian to designate a brother or sister who is at least one-quarter Hawaiian to succeed to the leasehold interest in the tract by amending the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920 (HHCA).

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands testified in support of the bill.

Your Committees find that Act 12, Session Laws of Hawaii 2002, amended section 208(5) of the HHCA to extend the transfer rights of a lessee who is at least one-quarter Hawaiian to a brother or sister in addition to a spouse, child, or grandchild who is at least one-quarter Hawaiian. However, authority to designate a brother or sister who is at least one-quarter Hawaiian as a successor to the leasehold interest was not included in the amendment. This bill will correct that oversight.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 671 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.