Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu
Written Remarks
House Bill 266, House Draft 2
Public trust; Conveyance of real property and cash to OHA ($)
March 4, 2008
I rise in support.
The purpose of this bill is to most effectively and responsibly meet the State's constitutional obligations to native Hawaiians with regard to the benefits from the lands in the public trust referred to in Article XII, Sections 4 and 6, of the Hawaii Constitution (public trust lands). Among other things, this bill:
1. Conveys certain parcels of land in Kakaako Makai and Kalaeloa Makai on Oahu and on Hilo Banyan Drive on the island of Hawaii, and pays $13,189,860 to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) for the period from November 7, 1978, to July 1, 2008, as a result of a re-examination of the State's constitutional obligation to native Hawaiians;
2. Establishes a method for determining for each fiscal biennium, beginning in fiscal biennium 2009-2011, the amount of income and proceeds that OHA is to receive from the public trust lands;
3. Finds that the amount of income and proceeds OHA is to receive from the public trust lands for fiscal year 2008-2009 is $15,100,000 and mandating the disbursement of the sum to OHA;
4. Authorizes the chairperson of OHA to appoint an additional member to the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA); and
5. Exempts the Kakaako Makai lands conveyed to OHA from certain powers that HCDA has over those lands.
Thank you.
JON RIKI KARAMATSU 