Hawaiian Studies Commons^™

The Intersection Of Law And Culture: Native Hawaiian Rights And The Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, Kiana Cablayan-Kennedy, Leia Hernandez

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

The Hawaiian Homes Commission Act (HHCA) of 1920 is a crucial legislation for Native Hawaiian rights. The HHCA addresses the socio-economic disparities that Native Hawaiians face, especially after the overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy by the United States in 1893. The HHCA entails over 200,000 acres of land for homesteading to Native Hawaiians to preserve Native Hawaiian culture and self-sufficiency. Despite the purpose of the HHCA, multiple challenges have accumulated over the years - precisely the landmark case of Kalima v. State of Hawaii. Kalima v. State of Hawaii brought forth issues from 1959 through 1988 but became a civil …