Senate committees approve OHA land settlement bill

Two Senate committees today advanced the Abercrombie administration’s proposed ceded lands settlement with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs without making any changes.

Members of the Hawaiian Affairs and Water, Land and Housing committees voted unanimously in favor of the proposal. The measure was heard last week, but a decision was put off after concerns were raised over the issue of entitlements, or development rights to the properties, and whether they should be included with the settlement.

Lawmakers studied the issue but ultimately decided to advance the bill unamended and write up the concerns in the committee report. The bill now goes to the Senate Judiciary Committee.