Funding for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and protecting the Native Hawaiian brand are the priorities of the bipartisan Native Hawaiian Caucus this legislative session.
House Bill 604 would increase the state’s 10.25% transient accommodations tax levied on hotels by 1%, which would go into the Hawaiian Home General Loan Fund.
State Rep. Daniel Holt said it’s a creative approach that could generate about $90 million a year.
"We're just putting different options on the table. Everybody probably has their own opinion on what the TAT should be used for, so we just figured why not get in on the discussion as well. The lands of the Native Hawaiians were taken away and, you know, it's used for the tourism industry now. So, you know, why not use the funds that we received from the tourism industry to build more homes for Hawaiians?" Holt said.
The caucus introduced HB606 to appropriate an additional $600 million towards the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Lawmakers point to the success of a similar infusion in 2022.
The caucus is also introducing HB603 that would establish a Native Hawaiian Marketing Program under the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
The program would not only promote Native Hawaiian businesses but also protect the Native Hawaiian brand from being appropriated by other businesses.
