Bill > SB1193

This bill creates the Aloha Aina Land Trust, a new state entity designed to manage and rehabilitate lands previously leased to the United States military after their lease expires. The trust will consist of seven trustees appointed by the governor, including representatives from the Board of Land and Natural Resources, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and professionals with expertise in ecological rehabilitation, regenerative agriculture, and cultural programming. Upon lease expiration, transferred lands will first be offered to owners of inheritable kuleana land (traditional Hawaiian land holdings), and if no such owners exist, the lands will be transferred to the Aloha Aina Land Trust. The trust's primary responsibilities include ecological restoration, promoting regenerative agriculture, supporting local food production, establishing educational and cultural programs, and prioritizing community-led stewardship with an emphasis on indigenous knowledge and traditional practices. Importantly, the lands will be strictly limited to non-commercial uses focused on environmental sustainability, cultural preservation, and community development. The bill also appropriates state funds for the trust's operations and specifies that lands previously classified as government or crown lands before 1895 will be held in the public land trust, with potential future transfer to a recognized sovereign Native Hawaiian entity. The trust will begin its work on July 1, 2025, with trustees serving without direct compensation but receiving reimbursement for expenses.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=1193&year=2025