Bill > HCR199

This concurrent resolution requests the President of the United States to return recreational facilities on Hawaii public lands, specifically mentioning Fort DeRussy and the Hale Koa Hotel, to the State of Hawaii if they are no longer needed for national defense. The resolution emphasizes that these lands were historically "crown and government lands" of the Hawaiian Kingdom and were transferred to federal control with the understanding that they would be returned when no longer required for defense, as outlined in the Hawaii Admission Act (Public Law 86-3) and further clarified by Public Law 88-233. The resolution argues that the continued federal use of these lands for recreational purposes, such as the Hale Koa Hotel, does not constitute a legitimate military defense need and that their retention is a breach of trust and a potential taking of property without just compensation, referencing legal precedents and the historical context of Hawaii's statehood. It also calls for a comprehensive review of all federally held lands in Hawaii to identify those no longer needed for defense and to facilitate their return to the State, with a plan for their management and use for the benefit of Hawaii's people, particularly Native Hawaiians.