ATG NEWS RELEASE: Hawaii Supreme Court heard oral argument today regarding funding for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
Posted on Jul 6, 2017 in Latest Department NewsHONOLULU – Multiple parties presented oral argument to the Hawaii Supreme Court today regarding the obligations of the State under the Hawaii Constitution to provide funds to the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL).
On June 30, 2016, the executive branch appealed a circuit court’s decision in Nelson v. Hawaiian Homes Commission that ordered the State to appropriate more than $28 million to DHHL for the 2015-2016 fiscal year (FY), on the grounds that it violated the separation of powers.
Attorney General Chin said, “The circuit court decision raised serious concerns regarding the separation of powers and whose job it is to determine DHHL’s administration and operating budget pursuant to the State Constitution. It is the exclusive role of the Legislature to appropriate funds. The role of the courts is to interpret the law and determine when it has been violated, not to decide on budgets. The justices today were well briefed on both sides of the issue and asked good questions.”
In 2007, three beneficiaries of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act initiated this lawsuit, alleging that the State had inadequately funded DHHL. In 2016 a circuit court ordered the State to fulfill its duty under the State Constitution by appropriating “sufficient general funds” to DHHL for its FY 2015-2016 administrative and operating budget. Governor David Ige then proposed, and state legislators appropriated $17.1 million for FY 2015-2016 and $23.9 million for FY 2016-2017 for DHHL’s administration and operating budget. The State’s appeal did not impact these appropriations and did not stop DHHL from spending this money.
At today’s oral argument Senior Deputy Attorney General Charleen Aina argued for the state defendants, and Mark Bennett, from Starn, O’Toole, Marcus, and Fisher argued for the State Legislature as amicus. Sharla Ann Manley, from the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation argued for the plaintiffs, and Melvyn Miyagi, from Watanabe Ing argued for the Hawaiian Homes Commission and DHHL.
The Court took the matter under advisement and will later issue a written opinion.
# # #
For more information, contact:
Joshua A. Wisch
Special Assistant to the Attorney General
Phone: (808) 586-1284
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @ATGHIgov