Advocates present strategic plan for Hawaiian Homelands
The plan for how to use beneficiary lands is the first ever community-created one to be presented to lawmakers and the governor.
On Wednesday, March 4, State Senator Maile Shimabukuro and State Representative Kaniela Ing hosted an informational briefing on the Hawaiian Homelands program consisting of 200,000 acres of trust lands administered by the State Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL). The briefing focused on a 29-page, four-year strategic plan developed by community advocates and policy experts living and working in Hawaiian homestead areas around the state.
Between June–October 2014, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA), the Sovereign Councils of the Hawaiian Homeland Associations (SCHHA) and the Association of Hawaiians for Homestead Lands (AHHL) brought 100 program beneficiaries together to produce the first such strategic plan to be created by actual beneficiaries for a governor of Hawaiʻi.
“I’m excited about [the beneficiaries’] excitement that they have a stake in the success of this Native Hawaiian land trust—which they do,” said Kamaki Kanahele, SCHHA chairperson. “We want this land trust to do exactly what Congress intended—for native Hawaiians in every district in the state to live, to operate farms and ranches, and to build mercantile businesses that serve all of Hawaiʻi.”
“It’s really a road map,” said Michelle Kauhane, CNHA President. ”It’s a comprehensive plan that captures the knowledge and experience of some of the smartest and most qualified people on the issue of Hawaiian Homes. We wanted to give the new governor a realistic plan—one that is based on experience, based on sound policy and based on the actual purpose and intent of the law as enacted by the U.S. Congress.”
The 75-minute briefing was led by Robin Danner, the statewide SCHHA policy chair, along with Kauhane and Kanahele. Several SCHHA and CNHA leaders and legislators participated throughout the discussion. Danner explained how the state came to be in the unique position of managing a land trust set up by the federal government, the purpose of Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, and what resources are available to fulfill DHHL’s mission. (See DHHL’s website.)
“Most citizens of Hawaiʻi, including legislators from around the state, have very little information on Hawaiian Homes—most only know that the agency is supposed to issue land to Hawaiians for housing,” Danner said. “It is so much more than that. And, frankly, when all components are embraced in the law, it’s actually brilliant and completely achievable.”
Topics of discussion included land-use purposes under the law, financial resources available from special and trust funds to achieve the mission of the land trust, and the DHHL agency operating budget.
“The Hawaiian Homes program is crystal clear that lands are to be dedicated to native Hawaiians for homes, farms and ranches, as well as for mercantile business purposes,” said Danner. “Can you imagine the enterprise potential if DHHL would stop ignoring the mercantile land purpose, and instead invest in it? It’s not just a major flaw in the administration of our land trust, it is truly a giant missed opportunity for our people, and for the state in terms of economic growth.”
The briefing illustrated all of the funding sources available and where best to direct them to accomplish a successful Hawaiian Homes program.
“What this strategic plan says is that we have sufficient capital from our own trust funds for two of the four constitutionally mandated functions of the Hawaiian Homes program,” said Danner. “It says a steady level of GO bonds invested in infrastructure should be established—which would create incredible economic impact and jobs across the board for construction contractors in roads and infrastructure. And it says that DHHL should live within its means like any other state agency by spending only general funds for its staff and operating costs instead of double dipping into our trust funds.”
She added, “The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court has spoken on this in the Nelson case ruling—our strategic plan lays out the path forward to comply with that ruling while building a stable financial foundation for our land trust.”
One of the final topics discussed with Representative Ing and Senator Shimabukuro was the potential of creating a more concentrated focus on the mercantile enterprise potential in the law, by creating a Hawaiian Homestead Caucus for legislators with trust lands in their districts. CNHA and the SCHHA distributed a list showing that 25 of the 51 house representatives and 15 of the 25 senators in Hawaiʻi have trust lands and, therefore, constituent interests within their districts.
“So much can be accomplished when everyone has all of the information they need, and when both the executive and legislative branches of our government work with constituents that have many of the answers to the challenges that have plagued this land trust for too long,” said Kauhane.
