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HRS §673-2

Who can sue over Hawaiian land trusts

This section says who has the right to file a lawsuit in state circuit court about disputes involving the Hawaiian home lands trust or the native Hawaiian public trust. It also defines what counts as a native Hawaiian organization for these lawsuits.

courtsstate agencies

The statute, as written — Right to sue

(a) Native Hawaiians as defined in section [201(a)] of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, native Hawaiian organizations, the office of Hawaiian affairs, and Hawaiians defined as any person who is qualified to succeed to a homestead lease under section 209 of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act 1920, as amended, shall have the right to bring an action in the circuit courts of the State to resolve controversies relating to the Hawaiian home lands trust described in section 673-1(a)(1). (b) The office of Hawaiian affairs, native Hawaiians as defined in section 10-2, and native Hawaiian organizations shall have the right to bring an action in the circuit courts of the State to resolve controversies relating to the native Hawaiian public trust described in section 673-1(a)(2). (c) "Native Hawaiian organizations" as used in this chapter means a native Hawaiian homestead organization, or an unincorporated association, or corporation which is duly organized and thereby able to sue and be sued under the laws of this State and whose purpose is to protect and uphold the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act and the Admission Act section 5(f) relating to a public trust for the betterment of the conditions of native Hawaiians, or the social and economic self-sufficiency of native Hawaiians, and which organized body is controlled by native Hawaiians and a majority of its members receives or can receive benefits from the trust.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

Sections this one refers to

§10-2 Definitions for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs chapter

§673-1 State gives up immunity for trust mismanagement

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.