Bill > HB295

This bill amends the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920 to allow a living beneficiary's place on the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands' waitlist to be transferred to a qualified successor if the beneficiary dies before receiving a land tract. A "qualified application successor" must be at least one-fourth Hawaiian and be a close relative of the deceased beneficiary, including a spouse, child, grandchild, or sibling. If no such relatives exist, the successor can be a parent, widow/widower of a child or sibling, or a niece or nephew, who is also at least one-fourth Hawaiian. The bill gives the Hawaiian Homes Commission discretion in implementing this transfer process and modifies existing lease provisions to accommodate these potential successors. The changes aim to provide a clearer pathway for Hawaiian homelands to remain within families and benefit Native Hawaiian descendants, ensuring that the opportunity to receive a land lease is not lost if the original beneficiary passes away before being allocated a tract. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 3000, or upon specific approvals from the Secretary of the Interior or the U.S. Congress.

Housing and Urban Affairs, Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=295&year=2025