HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0819.006 2020-2022 comm. Ig
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DAVID Y.IGE h lir: WILLIAM J.AILA,JR
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t CHAIRMANGOVEHAWAIIAN HOMES CO
MMISSIONSTATEOF
JOSH GREEN TYLER I.GOMES
LT.GOVERNOR ''F' }R DEPUTY TO THE CHAIRMAN
STA FE OF HAWAII
STATE OF HAWAII
DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS
P.0.BOX 1879
HONOLULU,HAWAII 96805
TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM J. AILA, JR, CHAIRMAN
HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION
BEFORE THE HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL
HEARING ON JUNE 15, 2022 AT 9:00 AM VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE nm
BILL 180 INITIATES AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE VIII OF THE HAWAI `1 COUNTY
CHARTER (2020 EDITION), RELATING TO THE WATER BOARD AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY
Aloha e Chair David, Vice Chair Chung, and Hawaii County Council Members:
The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) is in support of this bill, which
adds representation to the Water Board of the County of Hawaii ("Water Board"), to
further the development and use of Hawaiian Home Lands as set forth in section 221 of
the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act (HHCA), and requires important Native Hawaiian
Law training for members of the Water Board and the County of Hawaii Department of
Water Supply ("Department of Water Supply").
Bill 180 is anchored in the Constitutional obligations the State and Counties have
to fulfill the HHCA. For our Home Lands and its beneficiaries on Hawaii Island and
across the pae`aina, water is a crucial aspect in our ability to develop our `aina
ho`opulapula. This bill would strengthen protections that DHHL and its beneficiaries
enjoy, especially regarding major policy decisions that affect the availability of potable
water for DHHL, and provides necessary context and training to these decisionmakers
around their kuleana in Native Hawaiian Law.
DHHL has enjoyed a productive relationship with the Department of Water
Supply under its current administration and are appreciative of the County's willingness
to not only work with DHHL but also invest the time to better understand DHHL's water
policies and water rights. However, Board members and administrations change
regularly, and we cannot say with great certainty that future administrations will have the
level of understanding and aloha for DHHL as the current Water Board and DWS
administration. Given our work to build this relationship over time, we want to ensure
long-term institutional understanding of DHHL within DWS in future administrations. Bill
180 would address this concern.
DHHL is grateful for the hearing of this bill and the deliberation on these critical
issues. Thank you for your consideration of our testimony.
Comm. No.
Ref. o® ca
Ref. Date JUN 1 5 2022