Const. Art. XVI, §7
Trusts on federal lands
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗This section says the State must follow any trust rules Congress sets for federal lands given to Hawaii, using laws passed by the legislature. Those laws cannot reduce the benefits that native Hawaiians get under another part of the constitution.
state agencies
The constitution, as written — With Trust
A copy, taken August 21, 2026. The version published by the Legislature is the one that governs, and it may have changed since. Check it before relying on anything here.
Any trust provisions which the Congress shall impose, upon the admission of this State, in respect of the lands patented to the State by the United States or the proceeds and income therefrom, shall be complied with by appropriate legislation. Such legislation shall not diminish or limit the benefits of native Hawaiians under Section 4 of Article XII. [Ren Const Con 1968 and election Nov 5, 1968; ren and am Const Con 1978 and election Nov 7, 1978] Note A proposal of the 1978 Constitutional Convention added the last sentence of the section. This addition appears to be one of the unspecified changes submitted for ratification under Question 34. On whether any of the changes submitted under Question 34 was in fact approved by the electorate, see Kahalekai v. Doi, 60 H. 324, 590 P.2d 543, excerpted in the note preceding the Preamble to the Constitution. Law Journals and Reviews A Litigator's Approach to Issues Concerning Exercise and Protection of Native Hawaiian Traditional and Customary Rights. 43 UH L. Rev. 592 (2021). Case Notes Under section, the State affirmatively assumes trust responsibilities of §5(f) of Admission Act. 73 H. 578, 837 P.2d 1247.
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