Bill > HB1917

This bill appropriates funds to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) to support the Public Land Trust Working Group, a group tasked with ensuring that lands historically belonging to the Kingdom of Hawaii, known as ceded lands, are properly accounted for, and that all income and proceeds derived from these lands are accurately calculated and distributed. Specifically, the bill allocates money for OHA to hire staff, purchase equipment, and secure professional services to aid the working group in its mission. The Public Land Trust Working Group was established by a previous law (Act 226) to determine the rightful annual share of income and proceeds from these lands that should go to OHA for the benefit of native Hawaiians, a responsibility rooted in historical events and affirmed by the Hawaii State Constitution and federal law. This appropriation aims to ensure the working group has the necessary resources to conduct thorough financial reviews and land inventories, addressing concerns about the accuracy and completeness of current data.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1917&year=2026