Bill > SCR125

This Concurrent Resolution requests the Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law, a legal research center focused on Native Hawaiian law, to establish a working group tasked with exploring the return of Crown Lands to Native Hawaiians. The resolution acknowledges the historical context of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893, the subsequent annexation by the United States, and the transfer of Crown and Government Lands, which were originally intended to support the Hawaiian monarchy and its people, into a public land trust without Native Hawaiian consent or compensation. The working group, composed of representatives from various Native Hawaiian organizations and government bodies, is directed to identify specific Crown Lands for prioritized return and determine which entity should permanently manage these lands. The group is also required to submit a report with its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Hawaii State Legislature by early 2023.