HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

254

TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 


HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the state auditor to audit the spending of the department of hawaiian home lands from July 1, 2001, to June 30, 2010, and the department of hawaiian home lands to report annually to the legislature on certain information regarding homestead lots.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, in 1921, with the enactment of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920, the United States set aside approximately 200,000 acres of land to establish a permanent homeland for native Hawaiians; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920, was subsequently incorporated into the Hawaii State Constitution; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands was established by the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920, and is headed by an executive board known as the Hawaiian Homes Commission; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands owes a fiduciary duty to its beneficiaries; and

 

     WHEREAS, it is essential that:

 

     (1)  The beneficiaries of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands gain access to lands set aside for them as expeditiously as possible; and

 

     (2)  The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands manage and spend wisely and effectively the moneys entrusted to it;

 

now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, that the State Auditor conduct a comprehensive audit of all spending by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands from July 1, 2001, to June 30, 2010; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is requested to provide its full cooperation and all relevant data and other information to the State Auditor during the planning and implementation of the audit; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State Auditor is requested to submit her findings and recommendations to the Legislature, no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2012; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is requested to include in all future annual reports to the Legislature:

 

     (1)  The total number of homestead lots awarded;

 

     (2)  The total number of homestead lots awarded where a home was actually built on the lot;

 

     (3)  The total number of homestead lots awarded where infrastructure improvements were made, resulting in a ready-to-build lot; and

 

     (4)  The amount of capital improvement project funds that were issued to support infrastructure developments on the homestead lots that were awarded, specified by type (e.g., general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, etc.); and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is requested to report to the Legislature on all items listed in the directly-preceding clause from January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2009, no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2012; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, and State Auditor.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Requesting the State Auditor to audit the spending of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands from July 1, 2001, to June 30, 2010, and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to report annually to the Legislature on certain information regarding homestead lots.