Press Release: Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Concludes State Violated Water Leasing Law in East Maui
Read the press release from the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation (NHLC) regarding a Hawai’i Supreme Court decision issued today involving water rights in East Maui. NHLC represented the hui of East Maui community members that brought this case. Read the press release here: Press Release - Supreme Court Decision re Carmichael Case Read the Supreme Court’s opinion here: 2022-03-03-Opinion-of-the-Court-by-Wilson-J.pdf More information about East Maui Water Rights: https://www.nativehawaiianlegalcorp.org/mauiwater
Public Testimony of NHLC in Support of CCH Resolution 22-34
As part of a hui of organizations that provide direct-delivery and support services to the Native Hawaiian community, Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation strongly SUPPORTS CCH Resolution 22-34, because together they represent a significant step towards furthering the normalization of ‘Ōlelo Hawaiʻi, the native language of these islands and a co-official language of the State of Hawaiʻi. Read NHLC’s public testimony here: NHLC Supports CCH Resolution 22-34 Read CCH Resolution 22-34 here: https://hnldoc.ehawaii.gov/hnldoc/document-download?id=13132
Public Testimony of NHLC in Support of CCH Bill 11
As part of a hui of organizations that provide direct-delivery and support services to the Native Hawaiian community, Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation strongly SUPPORTS CCH Bill 11, because together they represent a significant step towards furthering the normalization of ‘Ōlelo Hawaiʻi, the native language of these islands and a co-official language of the State of Hawaiʻi. Read NHLC’s public testimony here: NHLC Supports CCH Bill 11 Read CCH Bill 11 here: https://hnldoc.ehawaii.gov/hnldoc/document-download?id=13206
Public Testimony of NHLC in Opposition of SB2502
The Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation strongly OPPOSES SB2502, which would allow the Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority to lease lands under its control— including “ceded” lands — for 99 years at a time, effectively transferring these lands out of the public trust. Read NHLC’s public testimony here: NHLC Opposes SB2502 Read SB2502 here: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2022/bills/SB2502_.HTM
Public Testimony of NHLC in Opposition of HB1750
The Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation strongly OPPOSES HB1750, which would circumvent environmental regulations critical to protecting natural and cultural resources located on state public trust and “ceded” lands. Read NHLC’s public testimony here: NHLC Opposes HB1750 Read HB1750 here: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2022/bills/HB1750_.HTM
Public Testimony of NHLC in Opposition of SB2078
The Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation OPPOSES SB2078, which adds the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (“HTA”) president and chief executive officer as an ex officio member of the Board of Land and Natural Resources (“BLNR”) and Land Use Commission (“LUC”). Read NHLC’s public testimony here: NHLC Opposes SB2078 Read SB2078 here: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2022/bills/SB2078_.HTM
Public Testimony of NHLC in Support of HB2516
The Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation joins the Hawaiʻi Correctional Oversight Commission and other experts in calling on the State to stop planning the privately-owned jail. Instead, the State should start an inclusive and systemic planning process, including meaningful consultation with Native Hawaiians and other community stakeholders to achieve the best outcomes for the people of Hawaiʻi. The manaʻo and ʻike of the lāhui is essential to creating a better plan for Native Hawaiians and for all of the people of Hawaii. Read NHLC’s public testimony here: NHLC Supports HB2516 Read HB2516 here: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2022/bills/HB2516_HD1_.HTM
Public Testimony of NHLC in Opposition of HB2164
The Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation OPPOSES HB2164, which would authorize the direct negotiation of up to 55-year water licenses without sufficient protections for the rights of the public as well as the public trust resource itself. Read NHLC’s public testimony here: NHLC Opposes HB2164 Read HB2164 here: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2022/bills/HB2164_.htm
Public Testimony of NHLC in Opposition of SB2884
Water protectors have fought for years to have the State apply appropriate water permit review protocols to protect public trust water in the Keauhou aquifer in North Kona. These protections include review of environmental impacts and impacts on Native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices. Just last year, the Water Commission agreed to defer a decision to permit the Ota well to address these concerns. Pending bill SB2884 would enable automatic water permit approvals, effectively removing these important protections. Please take a moment to submit written (due tomorrow at 1pm) and sign up to testify orally (via Zoom) if you can. ...
Public Testimony of NHLC in Opposition of SB2251
The Senate Housing Committee will hold a hearing tomorrow, Tuesday February 1 at 1:30pm on SB2251, which would encourage the long term development and leasing of "ceded" lands for any housing, including market and above market rate units. Using public trust lands for this purpose fails to advance the interests of Native Hawaiians or the general public, as required by Section 5(f) of the Admission Act. Read NHLC’s public testimony here: NHLC Opposes SB2251 Read SB2251 here: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2022/bills/SB2251_.htm
