Bill > HR56

This Resolution requests the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) to form a task force composed of Hawaiian leaders, legal experts, and a diverse group of Native Hawaiians to examine whether its responsibility to improve the lives of Native Hawaiians and manage its resources for their benefit would be better fulfilled if its trustees were appointed rather than elected. The resolution highlights the historical context of OHA's creation to ensure Hawaiian self-determination and control over their resources, noting that recent court decisions have altered the eligibility for both voting in and running for OHA trustee positions, potentially diminishing the ability of Native Hawaiians to elect their own leaders. It suggests that an appointment process might attract more qualified individuals who are committed to the fiduciary duty of serving Native Hawaiian beneficiaries, and that the task force should consider who would make these appointments and how to identify the most suitable candidates.