Conference to Mark 100th Anniversary of Hawaiian Homes Commission Act

Prince Kuhio spearheaded the 1921 Hawaiian Homes Commission Act. The free Prince Kuhio Day Ho‘olaule‘a on Saturday marks the 95th anniversary of this federal act that established the native Hawaiian homestead program. Courtesy image.

Kauaʻi homesteader Robin Puanani Danner will be the featured presenter at the inaugural 2020 Centennial Puwalu, or conference on April 30. The event will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. via Zoom.

Danner is a second-term chairwoman of the Sovereign Council of Hawaiian Homestead Associations (SCHHA) that encompasses more than 40 organizations statewide. She plans to discuss the 1920 Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, and tell how homestead associations may register with the US
Department of the Interior (DOI).

The event marks the 100th anniversary of the 1920 Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, whose 122-page document is available here. This federal law provides for the native Hawaiian homestead program overseeing 204,000 acres. On the latter isle lands, people of 50 percent or more Hawaiian blood quantum are to live, farm, ranch and undertake mercantile activities.

Here are a list of sessions for the 2020 Centennial Puwalu four-part series:

• 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 30 — Hawaiian Homes Commission Act briefing;
  workshop on DOI registration by homestead associations, by presenter
  Danner.
• 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, June 13 – A native Hawaiian mercantile entity, Credit
  Edge Solutions LLC, with presenter MacDonald; e-play on the 1920
  congressional hearings about the proposed Hawaiian Homes Commission Act,
  starring and directed by Jeison Lokela Manaois.
• 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 12 — Kuhio Awards program; Aloha Response.
• 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12 — Kuleana homesteading concept; Wakiu
  Community Development Corporation; Neighborhood Security Watch.

To access the free public session, contact Zoom facilitator Kainoa Lei MacDonald at kai@creditedgesolutions.com or text (808) 419-8646; she will forward a Zoom invitation.