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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> ®1 1/~ <br /> OFFICE HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS <br /> 711 Kapiolani Boulevard, Suite 500 <br /> Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 <br /> (806) 594-1888 <br /> HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL <br /> COMMITTEE ON FINANCE <br /> 25`x' SESSION <br /> Bill No. 207: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 19, ARTICLE 10, HAWAII COUNTY <br /> CODE (2005 EDITION, AS AMENDED), ESTABLISHING A REAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION <br /> FOR KULEANA LAND. <br /> DATE: December 18, 2007 TIME: 1:30 <br /> p.m. <br /> PLACE: SHERATON KEAUHOU BAY RESORT AND SPA, 78-128 Ehukai Street, <br /> Kailua-Kona, Hawaii <br /> <br /> Aloha, Chair Yagong and Members. I am Rowena Akana, Trustee-at-Large <br /> of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. My testimony is in support of Bill No. <br /> 207 which would establish a tax exemption for persons living on Kuleana lands <br /> who are descendants of the original owners. Many Hawaiian families, who have <br /> been caring for their Kuleana lands for generations, are now facing sky- <br /> rocketing property taxes because of luxury resorts and shopping malls being <br /> built next-door. If something isn't done soon, more Kuleana lands could fall <br /> out of Hawaiian hands. <br /> This issue first came to my attention several years ago when a family <br /> came to OHA and asked that we take custody of their Kuleana land until they <br /> were able to save up enough money to pay off their back taxes. <br /> <br /> The history of Kuleana lands is a tragic one. According to Kumu Pono <br /> Associates LLC, Kuleana lands came into existence as a result of the Mahele. <br /> In 1848, all land in the Kingdom of Hawaii was placed in one of three <br /> categories: Crown Lands (for the occupant of the throne); Government Lands; <br /> and Konohiki Lands (Kuleana Act, 1850). <br /> Ownership rights to all lands in the kingdom were "subject to the <br /> rights of the native tenants;" those individuals who lived on the land and <br /> worked it for their subsistence and the welfare of the chiefs (Kanawai Hoopai <br /> Karaima... {Penal Code} 1850:22). The 1850 resolutions in "Kanawai Hoopai <br /> Karaima no ko Hawaii Pae Aina," authorized the newly formed Land <br /> <br /> Committee on Finance Testimony for Bill 207 <br /> OHA Trustee Rowena Akana <br /> December 18, 2007 <br /> Commission to award fee-simple title to all native tenants who occupied and <br /> improved any portion of Crown, Government, or Konohiki lands. <br /> <br /> After commoners were granted the opportunity to acquire their own <br /> parcels of land through the Mahele, foreigners were also granted the right to <br /> own land in 1850, provided they had sworn an oath of loyalty to the Hawaiian <br /> 1 <br />