Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 33, Number 2, 1 February 2016 — State appeals ruling on DHHL funding [ARTICLE]

State appeals ruling on DHHL funding

By Garett Kamemoto The state Attorney General is appealing a court ruling ordering the state to sufficiently fund the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Circuit Judge Jeanette Castagnetti ruled in November the Legislature must

provide sufficient funding to DHHL for administrative and operating expenses. Her order said "sufficient funds" the Legislature is constitutionally obligated to provide DHHL total more than $28 million for the fiscal year 2015-2016. "It's discouraging to see the attorney general pursuing an appeal of this matter on the basis that the court has overstepped its powers," said Jobie

Masagatani, Hawaiian Homes Commission Chair. "It feels like an unnecessary delay that hurts DHHL and its ability to effectively meet its mission to plaee native Hawaiians on the land." For the last three years, lawmakers appropriated $9.6 million, nearly one-third the amount requested by DHHL to fund operations. Prior to that, the Legislature provided no general funds to the department. ■