Bill > HCR145

This Concurrent Resolution requests the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to establish a working group, referred to as the "Crown Lands Working Group," to explore the return of Crown Lands to Native Hawaiians. Crown Lands were historically part of the Hawaiian monarchy's domain and were intended to support the Hawaiian people, but they were confiscated and merged with Government Lands when Hawaii was annexed by the United States in 1898. The resolution acknowledges the historical context of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom and the subsequent loss of these lands without consent or compensation, as recognized by a federal Apology Resolution in 1993. The working group will be tasked with identifying which specific Crown Lands should be prioritized for return and determining which entity should manage these lands in the future. The group will be composed of representatives from various Hawaiian organizations and legal experts, and they are required to submit a report with their findings and recommendations to the State Legislature by early 2023.