Testimony on HB 1931

I support House Bill 1931. I have learned in a presentation during my Political Science 302,
Native Hawaiian Politics, course this spring semester that Prince Jonah Khi Kalanianaole
initially wanted the blood quantum requirement for Hawaiian Homesteads to be 1/32. The
lowering of the threshold would open up more homes for Native Hawaiians who may be renting
or homeless. This in turn would open up rental units for other families as well as decrease the
homeless population in the islands.
As stated in the text of the bill, the legislature recognizes that the State of Hawaii has a
responsibility to support and rehabilitate Native Hawaiians. Passing this bill will be a great start
in providing a stable path of owning a home for those of less Native Hawaiian blood. This will
also assist with providing a stable family life as we all know that the cost of living is very high in
Hawaii.
I am fortunate enough to have my name on the Homestead list because I have more than 50%
Native Hawaiian blood. If I have children with a non-Hawaiian, their blood quantum will drop to
~25%. If they have children with other non-Hawaiians, those children will not be able to acquire
the homestead because they fall below the blood quantum minimum. By then, I hope a law
similar to this will be in place. However, this situation is more than likely being experienced now
by other families. As such, the time to pass this bill to lower the blood quantum requirement is
long overdue. We must help our Native Hawaiian families now.
O au iho n me ke aloha (With my regards),
Erik Ho