Today, H.J.Res. 55, the Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole Protecting Family Legacies Act, received its first hearing in the House Natural Resources Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples in the United States. The bipartisan legislation, introduced by Congressman Kaialiʻi Kahele (HI-02), would ensure long-term tenancy to beneficiaries of the Hawaiian Homes Commissions Act (HHCA) and their successors by reducing the successorship qualification of a lessee’s spouse, children, grandchildren and brothers or sisters from one quarter to one thirty-second Hawaiian.
During the hearing, Congressman Kahele and Hawaiian Homes Commission Chairman William J. Aila, Jr., provided live testimony to the significance of passing H.J.Res. 55 for Native Hawaiians and its overwhelming support from homestead beneficiaries. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Sovereign Council of Hawaiian Homestead Associations also provided written testimony in support of the bill.
“Today’s Subcommittee hearing advances Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole’s 100-year vision one step closer to reality,” said Congressman Kahele. “Native Hawaiians have a right to return to their lands to realize their own self-sufficiency and self-determination. The Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole Protecting Family Legacies Act would provide cultural continuity and economic stability for generations of Native Hawaiian families. I extend my sincere mahalo to Subcommittee Chair Teresa Leger Fernández and Chair Raúl Grijalva for bringing this crucial legislation for Native Hawaiians to the attention of the Committee.”
“At today’s hearing, Rep. Kahele and Chairman Aila presented compelling testimony about the importance of enacting the Family Legacies Act so that Native Hawaiian families are able to access and pass on their homes and homeland to their children and grandchildren – their ‘ohana,” said Subcommittee Chair Leger Fernández. “As Subcommittee Chair and co-sponsor of this legislation, I visited Hawaiian homelands and heard first hand from Native Hawaiians of the importance of this bill. I’m committed to working with Rep. Kahele and Chair Grijalva to ensure Native Hawaiians families benefit from the Hawaiian Homes Commissions Act.”
“Today we have an opportunity and responsibility to continue familial connections not only to family members but also future descendants to the ʻāina (ancestral lands),” said Chairman Aila.
The House Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples in the United States is the sole Subcommittee with exclusive jurisdiction over Native Hawaiian, American Indian and Alaska Native issues in the U.S. House of Representatives. In August, Kahele convened a meeting with the Subcommittee’s chair, Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), on Hawaiʻi Island to discuss issues facing homestead communities and key priorities for Native Hawaiians.
The next step for this legislation is a markup by the full Natural Resources Committee where all Committee Members would vote to advance the bill for consideration on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.