Musician Willie K entertains those gathered in the State Senate chambers. - Photo: Liza Simon

2009 Legislature opens with
slimmer budget, native concerns

By T. Ilihia Gionson / Ka Wai Ola

Amid a gloomy economic climate that is forecasted to worsen, the leaders of both legislative houses underscored the challenges that the depressed economy will present in the coming term. And the biggest blip on the radar screens of many Native Hawaiians was a proposed moratorium on the sale or transfer of ceded lands.

In her opening day address, Senate President Colleen Hanabusa directly addressed the concerns of Native Hawaiians with regards to the state's U.S. Supreme Court appeal regarding ceded lands.

"We know we must address the sense of betrayal that many in our Native Hawaiian community feel on the issue of ceded lands," said Hanabusa (D, Ko 'Olina- Nānākuli-Ka'ena Point). "We will not turn a deaf ear to these questions, as difficult as they may be. We have heard the call of the people and we must respond."

Facing a decline in general fund revenues over the coming biennium of $1.8 billion, lawmakers plan on looking for places to make cuts without compromising essential services like health, safety and education.

Hanabusa said that even in this time of budgetary hardship, the Legislature must preserve social safety nets while getting creative to make up for the revenue shortfall. "Like every family in Hawai'i, we can only rely on the money we bring home. That means that to get our economy moving again, we must be creative with what we have," she said.

House Speaker Calvin Say (D, St. Louis Heights-Wilhelmina Rise-Pālolo Valley) echoed those comments, challenging his House colleagues to focus on passing a balanced budget with health, safety and education as priorities, and maintaining the economy until growth resumes.

Fiscal challenges notwithstanding, the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is requesting $11 million for two projects to secure water sources, on Hawai'i and Maui. The department is also joining the governor and the state Department of Transportation in supporting a $15 million appropriation for the construction of a new road in Kona, Hawai'i, to connect various neighborhoods including the La'i 'ōpua homestead.

The only policy consideration requested by the department is more latitude in determining the term of general leases, such as those for commercial projects. The current cap on general leases is 65 years. DHHL hopes to have the flexibility to sign leases for up to 99 years, in order to offer more security to lessees and consequently help them obtain financing for their projects.

The legislative package presented by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs includes two major proposals: a settlement of past due payments due OHA from the ceded lands trust, and of more immediacy, a moratorium on the sale or transfer of ceded lands away from the Public Land Trust.