Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 9, Number 1, 1 January 1992 — State laws await congressional approval [ARTICLE]

State laws await congressional approval

A resolution, in the U.S. House of Representatives, to grant federal consent to 1 1 changes made by the Hawai'i State Legislature to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920 was introduced in late November by U.S. Congressman Neil Abercrombie. The Congressional action was requested by the state of Hawai'i. Congresswoman Patsy Mink was co-sponsor of the resolution. The proposal is a eompanion measure to legislation introduced in the Senate by Senators Inouye and Akaka. The state legislative acts for whieh Congressional approval is needed are: Act 305 (1990); Authorizing the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to extend homestead lease terms from 99 years to 199 years. Act 150 (1990): Authorizing four families residing on certain lands in Kalawahine to elect to have their lands (they lived on before 1934 whieh was before the property was added to the DHHL inventory and subsequently removed) transferred to the DHHL, in whieh case the families would receive homestead leases. Alternatively, they could elect to have the land transferred to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, in whieh case they would receive long-term residential leases of up to 65 years. Act 24 (1990): Provides water to Hawaiian Home Lands for agricultural purposes (previous law provided water only for livestock, aquacultural and domestic purposes).

Act 14 (1990): Allows DHHL more flexibility and authority to conduct land exchanges. Act 283 (1989): Allows DHHL to issue revenue bonds for development of Hawaiian Home Lands. Act 265 (1989): Increases membership of Hawaiian Homes Commission from eight to nine seats by adding a new commissioner from Hawai'i County. Act 28 (1987): Replaces the $50,000 Hawaiian Homestead loan ceiling with a formula based on the Federal Housing Administration loan ceiling for Hawai'i. Act 36 (1987); Revises the manner by whieh DHHL handles payment of net proceeds upon surrender, cancellation, or termination of a homestead lease. Act 249 (1986): Reduces the number of separate DHHL funds from 15 to seven.

Act 85 (1986): Allows implementation of a new home construction mortgage loan program for native Hawaiian Homesteaders. Act 16 (1986): Allows establishment of enterprise zones on DHHL lands for expanded employment and training opportunities for native Hawaiians. The legislation will provide federal endorsement to the Hawaiian Homes program in its efforts to provide shelter, sustenance and dignity to native Hawaiians, Abercrombie said. A member of the House Interior Committee, Abercrombie said he will be forcefully making the case for the native Hawaiian agenda. "That agenda must be set by Hawaiians themselves. It is high time for us to defer to Hawaiians themselves as they define their aims and formulate a strategy for achieving their goals," he added.