SA: HHL financial-assistance proposal stirs debate

Hawaiian Home Lands financial-assistance proposal stirs debate
Dan Nakaso, Star-Advertiser, 27 March 2022

Proposals to infuse $600 million to help clear the backlog of Hawaiian Home Lands beneficiaries include different ways to provide financial assistance to Native Hawaiians willing to remove themselves from the waitlist of 28,700 beneficiaries.

“It’s great we’re trying to give a whole variety of options for the people on the waitlist,” said state Sen. Maile Shimabukuro (D, Kalaeloa-Waianae-Makaha), chairwoman of the Senate Hawaiian Affairs Committee.

KITV4: Hawaii lawmakers weigh in on Ketanji Brown confirmation hearings

By ‘A’ali’i Dukelow, KITV4, 21 March 2022

HONOLULU (KITV4) — Citing her extensive experience as a judge, as well as her prior decisions, African American Lawyers Association of Hawai’i president Leslee Matthews calls Ketanji Brown Jackson an overly-qualified candidate for the Supreme Court of the United States.

Ketanji Brown Jackson

“We need people in the legal profession that care about people,” Matthews said, pointing out Jackson’s confirmation hearings come as the Supreme Court decides on several issues that will impact Hawai’i residents, including women’s right to whole healthcare.

SA: Native Hawaiian homestead nonprofit buys Kauai affordable rental property

By Jayna Omaye, Star-Advertiser, 18 March 2022

A Native Hawaiian homestead nonprofit recently purchased an affordable rental property on Kauai, advancing a first-of-its-kind project. The nonprofit’s leaders say the initiative is an effort to keep more rentals at affordable rates, particularly during the economic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Homestead Community Development Corp., which seeks to grow rural economies on or near Hawaiian home lands, closed on the six-unit Halenani Street Apartments in Lihue, in December. It cost about $825,000.

SA: U.S. Rep. Kai Kahele calls for return of Makua Valley land

By Mindy Pennybacker, Star-Advertiser, 18 March 2022

U.S. Rep. Kai Kahele has introduced legislation requiring the cleanup, restoration and return of 782 leased acres of Oahu’s Makua Military Reservation used for live-fire training from 1942 to 2004 to the state of Hawaii.

Named the Leandra Wai Act in honor of the late cultural practitioner and co-founder of Malama Makua, a Native Hawaiian community group that has for decades sought to protect and restore the valley’s unique environmental and cultural resources, the bill authorizes appropriations be made to a trust fund that would be created to achieve its purposes.

KITV4: Bill to remove military from Makua

“Citing ‘serious damage to ‘aina,’ native Hawaiians, Kahele introduces bill to remove military from Makua”

By ‘A’ali’i Dukelow, KITV4, 17 March 2022

HONOLULU (KITV4) — For decades, Makua Valley has been the center of forced evictions and mass protests as the United States military conducted training on 782 of its acres. 

A 65-year land lease between the Board of Land and Natural Resources and the army is set to expire in 2029. However, Congressman Kai Kahele introduced legislation on Thursday proposing to return the Leeward O’ahu valley to the state of Hawai’i. 

The United States military has used Makua Valley as a practice arena since the 1920s, including live fire training that, “inflicted serious damage to this ‘aina and the people whom Makua is so important,” Kahele argued. 

HNN: Hundreds gather to mourn girl, mother killed in Nanakuli crash — and to call for action

By Ben Gutierrez
HawaiiNewsNow, 3/3/22

Hundreds turned out in Nanakuli on Thursday evening to mourn a girl and her mother who were killed in a weekend traffic crash.

But many also were galvanized to send a message against speed and driving under the influence — a message they hope can finally be turned into more action and fewer traffic deaths.