Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana‘ole Protecting Family Legacies Act

Bill 118 hjres 43, also known as the Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana‘ole Protecting Family Legacies Act, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The bill aims to protect the cultural and historical legacies of Native Hawaiian families by establishing a process for the transfer of certain lands held in trust by the federal government.

Specifically, the bill seeks to ensure that lands held in trust for Native Hawaiian families are not sold or transferred to non-Native Hawaiian individuals or entities. It also aims to provide a mechanism for the transfer of these lands to the descendants of the original owners, in order to preserve their cultural and historical significance.

The bill is named after Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana‘ole, a prominent Native Hawaiian leader and advocate for Native Hawaiian rights. He was instrumental in the passage of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, which established a trust for the benefit of Native Hawaiians and provided them with land for homesteading. Overall, the Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana‘ole Protecting Family Legacies Act seeks to honor the legacy of Prince Kūhiō and ensure that Native Hawaiian families are able to maintain their cultural and historical connections to the land. It is currently being debated in Congress, with supporters arguing that it is necessary to protect the rights of Native Hawaiians and preserve their heritage.