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SCR 156

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REPORT ON LITIGATION INVOLVING NATIVE HAWAIIAN TRADITIONAL AND CUSTOMARY RIGHTS AND THE STATE’S PUBLIC TRUST OBLIGATIONS UNDER ARTICLES XI AND XII OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Brenton Awa

Hawaii legislature requests annual reports from Attorney General on litigation over Native Hawaiian rights and state constitutional public trust obligations.

Offered.
#annualreport #statepublictrustandconstitutionalobligations
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Bill Summary · SCR 156

Legislative bill overview

SCR 156 is a concurrent resolution requesting Hawaii's Department of the Attorney General to submit annual reports documenting all litigation involving Native Hawaiian traditional and customary rights and the state's public trust obligations under the Hawaii Constitution's Articles XI and XII. The resolution does not create new law but rather directs an executive agency to compile and report specific litigation data to the legislature.

Why is this important

Native Hawaiian rights and the state's public trust obligations represent significant constitutional responsibilities with ongoing legal disputes. Annual reporting would provide the legislature with systematic information about litigation trends, costs, and outcomes, enabling more informed policymaking on these culturally and legally sensitive matters. This transparency could inform future legislation addressing Native Hawaiian land use, water rights, and cultural preservation.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope and resource burden: Defining what litigation qualifies and determining the administrative cost to compile comprehensive annual reports could be disputed
  • Political sensitivity: Reports may document litigation outcomes unfavorable to the state or the legislature, potentially creating pressure to modify policies or blame judicial decisions
  • Information disclosure: Litigation reports could reveal the state's legal strategy, weaknesses in cases, or internal disagreements about how to handle Native Hawaiian rights issues

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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