Bill > SR81

This Resolution urges the United States to fulfill its commitments under the Hawaiian Home Lands Recovery Act, a law enacted in 1995 to address the federal government's past taking and continued use of lands originally set aside for native Hawaiians under the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1921. The Hawaiian Home Lands Trust (Trust), managed by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), was intended to provide homesteads for native Hawaiians, but the federal government's actions have resulted in a shortfall of these lands. While some federal lands have been transferred to the DHHL since 1998, the Resolution contends that these transfers have not been timely or complete, and the Trust has suffered ongoing losses due to the federal government's continued possession of these lands without adequate compensation. Therefore, the Resolution calls for the United States to satisfy its remaining obligations and for Hawaii's congressional delegation to pursue legislative action to compensate the Trust for these lost lands, ensuring the Trust can provide for its native Hawaiian beneficiaries.