STAND. COM. REP. NO.  963

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 451

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 451, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION ACT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to ensure long-term tenancies to beneficiaries and successors of beneficiaries of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920, as amended, by reducing the minimum Hawaiian blood quantum requirement of certain successors to lessees of Hawaiian Home Lands from one quarter to one thirty-second.

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Kapolei Community Development Corporation, Kailapa Community Association, Princess Kahanu Estates Association, Kalama‘ula Hou Homestead Association, Hawaiian Community Assets, Democratic Party of Hawaii Hawaiian Affairs Caucus, Ho‘omana Pono, LLC, and numerous concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Center for Hawaiian Sovereignty Studies opposed this measure.  The Sovereign Council of Hawaiian Homelands Assembly and two concerned individuals submitted comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 451, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair