Statement on House Committee Deferral of HB 359

Posted on Feb 5, 2021 in Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Media Releases, Slider

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 5, 2021

Statement on House Committee Deferral of HB 359

(Kapolei, Oʻahu) – Hawaiian Homes Commission Chair William J. Ailā, Jr. issued a statement following the House Committee on Economic Development’s deferral of HB 359.

 “I am proud of Deputy Gomes and the DHHL staff for their efforts in bringing forth such a bold and innovative idea to address the devastating budget shortfall that this Department faces year after year. While the committee’s deferral of HB 359 was not an ideal outcome, we look forward to the future with hope. The accompanying Senate bill will be heard next week, and we thank the legislature across the board for allowing this conversation to come to the table. As we have previously commented, there are currently no other proposals to this scale that would close the gap of our funding shortfalls.”

For more information on the Department’s legislative initiatives, visit dhhl.hawaii.gov/government-relations.

To view a copy of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands’ written testimony, click here.

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About the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands:
The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands carries out Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole’s vision of rehabilitating native Hawaiians by returning them to the land. Established by U.S. Congress in 1921, with the passage of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, the Hawaiian homesteading program run by DHHL includes management of over 200,000 acres of land statewide with the specific purpose of developing and delivering homesteading.

Media Contact:
Cedric Duarte
Information and Community Relations Officer
Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
(808) 620-9591
(808) 342-0873
[email protected]