Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 26, Number 2, 1 February 2009 — 2009 Legislature opens with slimmer budget, native concerns [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

2009 Legislature opens with slimmer budget, native concerns

By I. Ilihia Giansan Publicatians Editur Amid a gloomy eeonomie elimate that is forecasted to worsen, the leaders of both legislative houses underscored the challenges that the depressed eeonomy will present in the coming term. And the biggest blip on the radar screens of many Native Hawaiians was a proposed moratorium on the sale or transfer of ceded lands.

must preserve social safety nets while getting creative to make up for the revenue shortfall. "Like every family in Hawai'i, we ean only rely on the money we bring home. That means that to get our economy moving again, we must be creative with what we have," she said. House Speaker Calvin Say (D, St. Louis Heights-Wilhehnina RisePālolo Valley) echoed those eomments, challenging his House eolleagues to focus on passing a bal-

In her opening day address, Senate President Colleen Hanabusa directly addressed the concerns of Native Hawaiians with regards to the state's U.S. Supreme Court appeal regarding ceded lands. "We know we must address the sense of betrayal that many in our Native Hawaiian community feel on the issue of ceded lands," said Hanabusa (D, Ko 'Olina-Nānākuli-Ka'ena Point). "We will not turn a deaf ear to these questions, as difficult as they may be. We have heard the eall of the people and we must respond." Facing a decline in general fund revenues over the coming hiennium of $1.8 hillion, lawmakers plan on looking forplaces to make cuts without compromising essential services like health, safety and education. Hanabusa said that even in this time of budgetary hardship, the Legislature

anced budget with health, safety and education as priorities, and maintaining the economy until growth resumes. Fiscal challenges notwithstanding, the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is requesting $11 million for two projects to secure water sources, on Hawai'i and Maui. The department is also joining the governor and the state Department of Transportation in supporting a $15 million appropriation for

the construction of a new road in Kona, Hawai'i, to connect various neighborhoods including the La'i 'ōpua homestead. The only policy consideration requested by the department is more latitude in determining the tenn of general leases, such as those for commercial projects. The current eap on general leases is 65 years. DHHL hopes to have the flexibility to sign leases for up to 99 years, in order to offer more security to lessees and eonsequently help them obtain financing for their projects. The legislative package presented by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs includes two major proposals: a settlement of past due payments due OH A from the ceded lands trust, and of more immediacy, a moratorium on the sale or transfer of ceded lands away from the Public Land Tmst. S

AAusician Willie K entertains those gathered in the State Senate chambers. - Photo: Liia Simon