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+ Keaukaha Pana`ewa Farmers Association
le FA. P.O. Box 6844
" C - a Hilo, HI 96720
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May 5,2025 t-j
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Committee on Finance
Hawaii County Council a -�
County of Hawai`i M -<
25 Aupuni Street (.7;
Hilo,Hawai`i ;11
RE:Support Testimony for Bill 44
Aloha Committee Chair Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder and Committee Members,
The Keaukaha Pana`ewa Farmers Association(KPFA)is a Hawaiian Homes Commission Act
Beneficiary Association and Homestead Association controlled by beneficiaries,as defined by the
Hawaiian Home Lands Recovery Act,109 Stat.537.KPFA is registered with the U.S.Department
of Interior,43 CFR§§47.10 and 48.6.
KPFA is in support of Bill 44 which would reduce the taxes paid by native Hawaiian homestead
beneficiaries for buildings on their Hawaiian Home Land leases.Mahalo to Committee Vice Chair
James Hustace and Committee member Holeka Inaba for co-sponsoring this important bill.
The status of native Hawaiian homestead beneficiaries has been affirmed on a federal level and is
not based on 'race,but on our"unique status as the indigenous people of a once sovereign nation as
to whom the United States has established a trust relationship".Congress delegated broad authority
of its federal trust responsibility over Hawaiian Home Lands to the State of Hawaii.
Both the County of Maui and the County of Kauai provide similar exemptions for native Hawaiian
homestead beneficiaries.
We ask for your vote in support of this measure.
Mahalo,
A;5s ' L44J2.c.
Maile Lu'uwai
President
Keaukaha Pana`ewa Farmers Association
Comm.
Ref. To:
Ref. Dote Y - 6 2025,