HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	251
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS TO EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES TO REVISE ITS PRESENT POLICIES ON MATTERS OF SUCCESSORSHIP.

     WHEREAS, the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, as amended, permits the succession of lessee rights to certain relatives of a deceased lessee as long as the qualified relative is at least one-quarter Hawaiian; and

     WHEREAS, the present successorship, a minimum of twenty-five per cent blood quantum, is insufficient to assure the transfer of lessee rights to successors who are of less than twenty-five percent Hawaiian blood; and

     WHEREAS, a significant number of intermarriages occur between qualified lessees and non-qualified spouses; and

     WHEREAS, the Hawaiian population's blood quantum reduces with every passing generation, and, in some families, three or four times in one lessee's lifetime; and

     WHEREAS, now is the time to reduce the required blood quantum for successors presently awaiting transfer; and

     WHEREAS, to preserve the transfer of lands subject to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, as amended, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands should make changes to the current procedures for lessee successorship; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2010, that the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is requested to explore opportunities to revise its present policies and procedures by, for example, lowering the blood quantum requirement to 12.5 percent for eligible successors; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, and members of Hawaii's Congressional delegation.

Report Title: 

Hawaiian Home Lands; Successorship