I support this bill because when need to keep our people on their aina kupuna:
1. Families who have been able to maintain their ancestral lands since the Mahele represent a foundation of Mauiʻs historical and cultural legacy, and help to maintain important connections to the past and to the ʻāina that have informed, and continue to inform, Mauiʻs social fabric and unique community values. The tax relief provided for in this measure will help more of these families hold on to their ʻohana lands, especially amidst global real estate speculation, skyrocketing property values, and resulting property tax assessments that may exceed what many can afford. Accordingly, this measure will help to perpetuate Mauiʻs historical and cultural legacy, and preserve that which has helped to make Maui and all of Hawaiʻi such a unique and special place to live.
2. The County has already seen the importance of providing kuleana parcels held by lineal descendants with a Kuleana Property Tax exemption, to prevent the further loss of Hawaiian lands from Hawaiian hands. This bill would extend this exemption to provide appropriate protection for government grant lands also acquired under the Kuleana Act of 1850, which were set aside to provide Hawaiian Kingdom subjects and native tenants with an alternative way to acquire sufficient land to support themselves and their ʻohana, and perpetuate the lifestyles and values that had sustained them since time immemorial.
3. Land grabs and speculation by off-island investors should never lead to long-time kamaʻāina families being taxed into poverty or off of their ancestral lands, and especially those families who have maintained their ʻāina kūpuna since the Mahele. This bill provides a critical and highly appropriate step to protect more of Mauiʻs families and the legacy they represent, from property tax increases due to forces well beyond their control.
4. The dispossession of land has deep, profound, and unique impacts on Native Hawaiians, whose health and well-being are based on their feelings for and deep attachment to the ʻāina. Other kamaʻāina who have maintained their family lands since the Mahele are likely to have also developed a deep, familial attachment to their lands that would be devastating to lose. While this bill cannot return ancestral lands that have already been lost, it will provide critical tax protections for the few Native Hawaiian and other ʻohana who, despite all the changes and pressures of the last century and a half, have been able to hold onto their ancestral lands since the Kuleana Act, and who may now be facing ever-increasing tax assessments that may eventually lead to the loss of their ʻāina aloha.
5. Real estate speculation and investment have led to skyrocketing property values, which has led to significantly increased county tax revenues from off-island investors. Unfortunately, this has also led to increasing property taxes being levied on long-time kamaʻāina families, including Native Hawaiian and other families who have held onto their family lands since the Kuleana Act, and who for generations have helped to perpetuate the values and ways of life that define Maui countyʻs unique communities. This bill will enable the county to protect more of these ʻohana from escalating property taxes, without compromising its ability to generate tax revenues from real estate speculators and investors.
Families who have been able to maintain their ancestral lands since the Mahele represent a foundation of Mauiʻs historical and cultural legacy, and help to maintain important connections to the past and to the ʻāina that have informed, and continue to inform, Mauiʻs social fabric and unique community values. The tax relief provided for in this measure will help more of these families hold on to their ʻohana lands, especially amidst global real estate speculation, skyrocketing property values, and resulting property tax assessments that may exceed what many can afford. Accordingly, this measure will help to perpetuate Mauiʻs historical and cultural legacy, and preserve that which has helped to make Maui and all of Hawaiʻi such a unique and special place to live.
The County has already seen the importance of providing kuleana parcels held by lineal descendants with a Kuleana Property Tax exemption, to prevent the further loss of Hawaiian lands from Hawaiian hands. This bill would extend this exemption to provide appropriate protection for government grant lands also acquired under the Kuleana Act of 1850, which were set aside to provide Hawaiian Kingdom subjects and native tenants with an alternative way to acquire sufficient land to support themselves and their ʻohana, and perpetuate the lifestyles and values that had sustained them since time immemorial.
Land grabs and speculation by off-island investors should never lead to long-time kamaʻāina families being taxed into poverty or off of their ancestral lands, and especially those families who have maintained their ʻāina kūpuna since the Mahele. This bill provides a critical and highly appropriate step to protect more of Mauiʻs families and the legacy they represent, from property tax increases due to forces well beyond their control.
The dispossession of land has deep, profound, and unique impacts on Native Hawaiians, whose health and well-being are based on their feelings for and deep attachment to the ʻāina. Other kamaʻāina who have maintained their family lands since the Mahele are likely to have also developed a deep, familial attachment to their lands that would be devastating to lose. While this bill cannot return ancestral lands that have already been lost, it will provide critical tax protections for the few Native Hawaiian and other ʻohana who, despite all the changes and pressures of the last century and a half, have been able to hold onto their ancestral lands since the Kuleana Act, and who may now be facing ever-increasing tax assessments that may eventually lead to the loss of their ʻāina aloha.
Real estate speculation and investment have led to skyrocketing property values, which has led to significantly increased county tax revenues from off-island investors. Unfortunately, this has also led to increasing property taxes being levied on long-time kamaʻāina families, including Native Hawaiian and other families who have held onto their family lands since the Kuleana Act, and who for generations have helped to perpetuate the values and ways of life that define Maui countyʻs unique communities. This bill will enable the county to protect more of these ʻohana from escalating property taxes, without compromising its ability to generate tax revenues from real estate speculators and investors.
I support this bill because when need to keep our people on their aina kupuna:
1. Families who have been able to maintain their ancestral lands since the Mahele represent a foundation of Mauiʻs historical and cultural legacy, and help to maintain important connections to the past and to the ʻāina that have informed, and continue to inform, Mauiʻs social fabric and unique community values. The tax relief provided for in this measure will help more of these families hold on to their ʻohana lands, especially amidst global real estate speculation, skyrocketing property values, and resulting property tax assessments that may exceed what many can afford. Accordingly, this measure will help to perpetuate Mauiʻs historical and cultural legacy, and preserve that which has helped to make Maui and all of Hawaiʻi such a unique and special place to live.
2. The County has already seen the importance of providing kuleana parcels held by lineal descendants with a Kuleana Property Tax exemption, to prevent the further loss of Hawaiian lands from Hawaiian hands. This bill would extend this exemption to provide appropriate protection for government grant lands also acquired under the Kuleana Act of 1850, which were set aside to provide Hawaiian Kingdom subjects and native tenants with an alternative way to acquire sufficient land to support themselves and their ʻohana, and perpetuate the lifestyles and values that had sustained them since time immemorial.
3. Land grabs and speculation by off-island investors should never lead to long-time kamaʻāina families being taxed into poverty or off of their ancestral lands, and especially those families who have maintained their ʻāina kūpuna since the Mahele. This bill provides a critical and highly appropriate step to protect more of Mauiʻs families and the legacy they represent, from property tax increases due to forces well beyond their control.
4. The dispossession of land has deep, profound, and unique impacts on Native Hawaiians, whose health and well-being are based on their feelings for and deep attachment to the ʻāina. Other kamaʻāina who have maintained their family lands since the Mahele are likely to have also developed a deep, familial attachment to their lands that would be devastating to lose. While this bill cannot return ancestral lands that have already been lost, it will provide critical tax protections for the few Native Hawaiian and other ʻohana who, despite all the changes and pressures of the last century and a half, have been able to hold onto their ancestral lands since the Kuleana Act, and who may now be facing ever-increasing tax assessments that may eventually lead to the loss of their ʻāina aloha.
5. Real estate speculation and investment have led to skyrocketing property values, which has led to significantly increased county tax revenues from off-island investors. Unfortunately, this has also led to increasing property taxes being levied on long-time kamaʻāina families, including Native Hawaiian and other families who have held onto their family lands since the Kuleana Act, and who for generations have helped to perpetuate the values and ways of life that define Maui countyʻs unique communities. This bill will enable the county to protect more of these ʻohana from escalating property taxes, without compromising its ability to generate tax revenues from real estate speculators and investors.
I support helping Native Hawaiians and other 'ohana hold on to their ancestral lands by providing tax relief.
Families who have been able to maintain their ancestral lands since the Mahele represent a foundation of Mauiʻs historical and cultural legacy, and help to maintain important connections to the past and to the ʻāina that have informed, and continue to inform, Mauiʻs social fabric and unique community values. The tax relief provided for in this measure will help more of these families hold on to their ʻohana lands, especially amidst global real estate speculation, skyrocketing property values, and resulting property tax assessments that may exceed what many can afford. Accordingly, this measure will help to perpetuate Mauiʻs historical and cultural legacy, and preserve that which has helped to make Maui and all of Hawaiʻi such a unique and special place to live.
The County has already seen the importance of providing kuleana parcels held by lineal descendants with a Kuleana Property Tax exemption, to prevent the further loss of Hawaiian lands from Hawaiian hands. This bill would extend this exemption to provide appropriate protection for government grant lands also acquired under the Kuleana Act of 1850, which were set aside to provide Hawaiian Kingdom subjects and native tenants with an alternative way to acquire sufficient land to support themselves and their ʻohana, and perpetuate the lifestyles and values that had sustained them since time immemorial.
Land grabs and speculation by off-island investors should never lead to long-time kamaʻāina families being taxed into poverty or off of their ancestral lands, and especially those families who have maintained their ʻāina kūpuna since the Mahele. This bill provides a critical and highly appropriate step to protect more of Mauiʻs families and the legacy they represent, from property tax increases due to forces well beyond their control.
The dispossession of land has deep, profound, and unique impacts on Native Hawaiians, whose health and well-being are based on their feelings for and deep attachment to the ʻāina. Other kamaʻāina who have maintained their family lands since the Mahele are likely to have also developed a deep, familial attachment to their lands that would be devastating to lose. While this bill cannot return ancestral lands that have already been lost, it will provide critical tax protections for the few Native Hawaiian and other ʻohana who, despite all the changes and pressures of the last century and a half, have been able to hold onto their ancestral lands since the Kuleana Act, and who may now be facing ever-increasing tax assessments that may eventually lead to the loss of their ʻāina aloha.
Real estate speculation and investment have led to skyrocketing property values, which has led to significantly increased county tax revenues from off-island investors. Unfortunately, this has also led to increasing property taxes being levied on long-time kamaʻāina families, including Native Hawaiian and other families who have held onto their family lands since the Kuleana Act, and who for generations have helped to perpetuate the values and ways of life that define Maui countyʻs unique communities. This bill will enable the county to protect more of these ʻohana from escalating property taxes, without compromising its ability to generate tax revenues from real estate speculators and investors.
Please see attached for testimony from Sylvia Hussey, Ed.D., on behalf of the Administration of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.