Hawaii’s attorney general says royalties from geothermal resource development on Hawaiian home lands must be used to benefit Native Hawaiians.

State Attorney General David Louie announced his formal opinion on the issue Tuesday, saying 100 percent of the royalties must go to Native Hawaiians.

He says he came to the conclusion after a comprehensive legal analysis by deputy attorney generals in his office.

His opinion also concludes that the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is the only state entity authorized to manage geothermal resources on Hawaiian home lands.

Louie says he hopes his formal opinion will help the lawmakers and the community understand the department’s rights to the economic benefits of geothermal resource development on home lands.