Native Hawaiians Receive $328 Million Settlement in Historic Class-Action Lawsuit

A state judge has given final approval to a $328 million settlement for Native Hawaiians who have spent decades on the homestead waitlist. The settlement, which was reached in April 2022, is the largest known legal settlement in Hawaii history.

The lawsuit was filed in 1999 by 2,800 Native Hawaiians who claimed that the state had violated its legal responsibility to provide them with homestead leases. The plaintiffs alleged that the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) had mismanaged the public lands trust and failed to award leases in a timely manner.

The settlement provides compensation to the plaintiffs for the harm they suffered as a result of the DHHL's failures. The payments will be distributed based on the length of time each plaintiff spent on the waitlist.

The settlement also includes a number of reforms that are designed to improve the management of the Hawaiian Homes Program. These reforms include the creation of a new ombudsman's office to investigate complaints about the DHHL, the establishment of a new appeals process, and the appointment of a new board of trustees for the DHHL.

The settlement is a significant victory for Native Hawaiians who have been waiting for decades to receive homestead leases. It is also a major step forward in the effort to improve the management of the Hawaiian Homes Program.

What does the settlement mean for Native Hawaiians?

The settlement provides much-needed compensation to Native Hawaiians who have been waiting for decades to receive homestead leases. The payments will help to offset the financial hardship that many plaintiffs have faced as a result of the DHHL's failures.

In addition to providing compensation, the settlement also includes a number of reforms that are designed to improve the management of the Hawaiian Homes Program. These reforms will help to ensure that Native Hawaiians are able to access the benefits of the program in a timely and efficient manner.

What does the settlement mean for the future of the Hawaiian Homes Program?

The settlement is a major step forward in the effort to improve the management of the Hawaiian Homes Program. The reforms that are included in the settlement will help to ensure that the program is more transparent and accountable.

The settlement also sends a message to the DHHL that it must take its responsibilities to Native Hawaiians seriously. The DHHL must now work to implement the reforms that are included in the settlement and to ensure that Native Hawaiians are able to access the benefits of the program in a timely and efficient manner.

Conclusion

The $328 million settlement is a significant victory for Native Hawaiians and a major step forward in the effort to improve the management of the Hawaiian Homes Program. The settlement provides much-needed compensation to Native Hawaiians who have been waiting for decades to receive homestead leases, and it includes a number of reforms that are designed to improve the program. The settlement is a positive development for Native Hawaiians and for the future of the Hawaiian Homes Program.