Bills

SR 88: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS AND Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions TO DEVELOP A COORDINATED SUPPORT AND STABILIZATION PATHWAY FOR NATIVE HAWAIIAN BENEFICIARIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR EXTREMEly LOW INCOME.

Session Year: 2025-2026
House: Senate
Latest Version Date: 2026-03-12

Current Status:

In Progress

(2026-04-08: One Day Notice 04-09-26.)

Introduced

In Committee

First Chamber

In Committee

Second Chamber

Final Decking

Enacted

What does this bill do?

This resolution asks the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to create a coordinated support and stabilization pathway for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries who are homeless or have extremely low incomes. It directs them to count affected beneficiaries, find gaps in housing and services, study options like transitional kauhale (communal housing) or tiny‑home villages on Hawaiian home lands, identify partners and funding, recommend pilot programs, and ensure any plan follows the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act (the law governing Hawaiian home lands).

Version:

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS AND Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions TO DEVELOP A COORDINATED SUPPORT AND STABILIZATION PATHWAY FOR NATIVE HAWAIIAN BENEFICIARIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR EXTREMEly LOW INCOME.

Version:

SR88

THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	88
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is constitutionally mandated to serve its native Hawaiian beneficiaries, and the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions is responsible for addressing the crisis of homelessness across Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, coordination and collaboration between the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions would allow for the pooling of expertise, funding, and other resources, thus reducing a duplication of effort; streamlining delivery of services; and ensuring that native Hawaiian beneficiaries receive more comprehensive support; and

WHEREAS, homelessness and extremely low incomes are often cyclical without sustained intervention, and a coordinated pathway would provide native Hawaiian beneficiaries with ongoing support, follow-up, and access to stabilization services, thereby increasing the likelihood of lasting, positive outcomes and breaking the cycle of poverty; and

WHEREAS, by developing a coordinated pathway, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions could provide improved support and clearer guidance and ensure that native Hawaiian beneficiaries do not fall through the cracks; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions are requested to develop a coordinated support and stabilization pathway for native Hawaiian beneficiaries experiencing homelessness or extremely low income; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions are requested to:

(1) Assess the number of native Hawaiian beneficiaries who are experiencing homelessness or whose incomes fall at or below thirty percent of Area Median Income;

(2) Identify gaps in housing stabilization, rental assistance, and supportive housing access;

(3) Evaluate the feasibility of establishing a coordinated indigent support pathway;

(4) Evaluate the feasibility of establishing transitional kauhale or tiny home village models on appropriate Department of Hawaiian Home Lands lands for beneficiary stabilization purposes;

(5) Identify appropriate land classifications and safeguards to ensure compliance with the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, as amended, and trust obligations;

(6) Examine partnership opportunities with nonprofit providers for supportive services and case management;

(7) Identify funding sources, including federal housing, Medicaid, and state supportive housing funds;

(8) Recommend pilot program structures, eligibility criteria, and operational safeguards; and

(9) Ensure that any proposed pathway prioritizes eligible beneficiaries and maintains full compliance with the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, as amended; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions are requested to submit a report to the Legislature regarding their development of a coordinated support and stabilization pathway for native Hawaiian beneficiaries experiencing homelessness or extremely low income; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission and Coordinator on Homelessness.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions; Coordinated Support and Stabilization Pathway

Date	Status
Apr 8, 2026	One Day Notice 04-09-26.
Apr 8, 2026	Reported from HWN/HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3573) with recommendation of adoption.
Apr 8, 2026	The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in HHS were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Kanuha, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) McKelvey, Keohokalole.
Apr 6, 2026	The committee(s) on HWN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in HWN were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Richards, Lamosao, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Ihara, Keohokalole.
Apr 6, 2026	The committee(s) on HHS deferred the measure until 04-08-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
Mar 30, 2026	The committee(s) on HWN/HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 04-06-26 2:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
Mar 19, 2026	Referred to HWN/HHS.
Mar 16, 2026	Offered.

Date	Description	Location	Votes
Apr 8, 2026	The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED	Senate Standing Committee on Health and Human Services	3 0 2 Passed
Apr 6, 2026	The committee(s) on HWN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED	Senate Standing Committee on Hawaiian Affairs	3 0 2 Passed