Difference between revisions of "Template:Nhsc-v1-486"
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Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
never intended nor construed to be | never intended nor construed to be | ||
restitution to Native Hawaiians. | restitution to Native Hawaiians. | ||
+ | |||
The provision for Native Hawaiians, | The provision for Native Hawaiians, | ||
however, persuasively argues that | however, persuasively argues that | ||
Line 8: | Line 9: | ||
recognition of Native Hawaiian | recognition of Native Hawaiian | ||
interests in those lands. | interests in those lands. | ||
+ | |||
The State of Hawai'i, further, in | The State of Hawai'i, further, in | ||
the State Constitution of 1978, | the State Constitution of 1978, | ||
acknowledged the beneficiary interests | acknowledged the beneficiary interests | ||
− | of Native Hawaiians and provided a pro | + | of Native Hawaiians and provided a <u>pro rata</u> share of the ceded lands revenues |
− | rata share of the ceded lands revenues | ||
be set aside for the "betterment of | be set aside for the "betterment of | ||
Native Hawaiians." These funds are | Native Hawaiians." These funds are | ||
Line 19: | Line 20: | ||
Trustees are elected by all | Trustees are elected by all | ||
Hawaiians. | Hawaiians. | ||
+ | |||
(It should be noted here, and will | (It should be noted here, and will | ||
be discussed in detail later, that the | be discussed in detail later, that the | ||
Line 24: | Line 26: | ||
Hawaiian Homes Act is different from | Hawaiian Homes Act is different from | ||
that guiding this Commission.) | that guiding this Commission.) | ||
+ | |||
This trust as a federal responsibility | This trust as a federal responsibility | ||
was not extinguished by the | was not extinguished by the | ||
Line 36: | Line 39: | ||
into the trust of the State of | into the trust of the State of | ||
Hawai'i. | Hawai'i. | ||
+ | |||
This reversionary interest of the | This reversionary interest of the | ||
State in all non-park federal lands is | State in all non-park federal lands is | ||
Line 41: | Line 45: | ||
Native Hawaiians by the establishment | Native Hawaiians by the establishment | ||
of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. | of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. | ||
+ | |||
In the twenty-four years since | In the twenty-four years since | ||
Statehood, however, less than 600 | Statehood, however, less than 600 | ||
acres of federally-controlled ceded | acres of federally-controlled ceded | ||
lands have been returned. | lands have been returned. | ||
− | RECOMMENDATION #3 | + | ====RECOMMENDATION #3==== |
Based on these findings, and the | Based on these findings, and the | ||
− | now-explicit reversionary | + | now-explicit reversionary interests of |
the Native Hawaiians and the State of | the Native Hawaiians and the State of | ||
Hawai'i, the following recommendation | Hawai'i, the following recommendation | ||
is offered to the Congress: | is offered to the Congress: | ||
− | + | * that the Congress establish a Joint Federal-State Ceded Lands Commission for the State of Hawai'i, to review the present use and need for federally-controlled lands in Hawai'i; | |
− | Joint Federal-State Ceded Lands | + | * that this Commission advise the Congress on the status of these lands, and have the authority to declare such lands surplus and available for return to the State of Hawai'i; and |
− | Commission for the State of | + | * that Native Hawaiians be included and consulted in the course of the Commission's review. |
− | Hawai'i, to review the present | + | |
− | use and need for | + | <u>The Hawaiian Homes Trust.</u> A similar |
− | lands in Hawai'i; | ||
− | |||
− | Congress on the status of these | ||
− | lands, and have the authority | ||
− | to declare such lands surplus | ||
− | and available for return to the | ||
− | State of Hawai'i; and | ||
− | |||
− | included and consulted in the | ||
− | course of the Commission's | ||
− | review. | ||
− | The Hawaiian Homes Trust. A similar | ||
Federal-State Task Force is now | Federal-State Task Force is now | ||
completing a review of the Hawaiian | completing a review of the Hawaiian | ||
− | Homes | + | Homes trust. This effort was prompted |
− | by an | + | by an initial report of the Civil |
Rights Commission indicating that a | Rights Commission indicating that a | ||
− | breech of | + | breech of trust may have occurred in |
the administration and management of | the administration and management of | ||
these lands. | these lands. | ||
− | As constituted, this Task | + | |
− | + | As constituted, this Task Force? | |
+ | will submit its findings and recommendations | ||
to the Governor of the | to the Governor of the | ||
State of Hawai'i and the Secretary of | State of Hawai'i and the Secretary of | ||
− | the | + | the Interior. |
+ | |||
Specific Congressional concerns and | Specific Congressional concerns and | ||
possible actions, however, will not be | possible actions, however, will not be | ||
Line 86: | Line 81: | ||
it is our intention, based on the | it is our intention, based on the | ||
mandate of this Commission and the | mandate of this Commission and the | ||
− | intense | + | intense interest expressed by Native |
Hawaiians, to address possible areas | Hawaiians, to address possible areas | ||
of Congressional review. | of Congressional review. | ||
− | Social Concerns. The | + | |
− | of the overthrow of the | + | <u>Social Concerns.</u> The consequences |
+ | of the overthrow of the Kingdom of | ||
Hawai'i by the United States are not | Hawai'i by the United States are not | ||
− | confined to | + | confined to historical wrong or compensable |
− | claims for lost | + | claims for lost anchestral |
− | land rights and | + | land rights and interests. |
− | 486 | + | {{p|486}} |
Latest revision as of 00:28, 24 July 2006
From these findings, it is quite clear that the ceded lands trust was never intended nor construed to be restitution to Native Hawaiians.
The provision for Native Hawaiians, however, persuasively argues that Congress has extended a preliminary recognition of Native Hawaiian interests in those lands.
The State of Hawai'i, further, in the State Constitution of 1978, acknowledged the beneficiary interests of Native Hawaiians and provided a pro rata share of the ceded lands revenues be set aside for the "betterment of Native Hawaiians." These funds are administered and managed by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs whose Board of Trustees are elected by all Hawaiians.
(It should be noted here, and will be discussed in detail later, that the Native Hawaiians definition of the Hawaiian Homes Act is different from that guiding this Commission.)
This trust as a federal responsibility was not extinguished by the Admission Act or its terms. All ceded lands set aside for national park purposes were declared fee and the property of the Department of the Interior. However, it was the intent of Congress that all other lands controlled by the federal government were subject to return and incorporation into the trust of the State of Hawai'i.
This reversionary interest of the State in all non-park federal lands is now also of explicit trust interest to Native Hawaiians by the establishment of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
In the twenty-four years since Statehood, however, less than 600 acres of federally-controlled ceded lands have been returned.
RECOMMENDATION #3
Based on these findings, and the now-explicit reversionary interests of the Native Hawaiians and the State of Hawai'i, the following recommendation is offered to the Congress:
- that the Congress establish a Joint Federal-State Ceded Lands Commission for the State of Hawai'i, to review the present use and need for federally-controlled lands in Hawai'i;
- that this Commission advise the Congress on the status of these lands, and have the authority to declare such lands surplus and available for return to the State of Hawai'i; and
- that Native Hawaiians be included and consulted in the course of the Commission's review.
The Hawaiian Homes Trust. A similar Federal-State Task Force is now completing a review of the Hawaiian Homes trust. This effort was prompted by an initial report of the Civil Rights Commission indicating that a breech of trust may have occurred in the administration and management of these lands.
As constituted, this Task Force? will submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor of the State of Hawai'i and the Secretary of the Interior.
Specific Congressional concerns and possible actions, however, will not be considered by this Task Force. Thus, it is our intention, based on the mandate of this Commission and the intense interest expressed by Native Hawaiians, to address possible areas of Congressional review.
Social Concerns. The consequences of the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawai'i by the United States are not confined to historical wrong or compensable claims for lost anchestral land rights and interests.
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