A proposal by the federal Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) would set aside land for the state’s first casino in the city of Kapolei on Hawaii’s “ninth island.” The proposal was sent to the Hawaiian Homes Commission, which voted 5-4 to support it on December 21.
The commission approved a draft bill that will be forwarded to the legislature for consideration. The state Attorney General and Governor David Ige will also review it to see if they support it.
The idea is controversial, as opposition to gambling is considered bipartisan in the Aloha State. Hawaii is one of just two states that has not legalized any form of gaming. Utah is the other.
DHHL estimates the casino could help address the department’s $200 million budget deficit. It says 28,730 Native Hawaiians on the waiting list for a homestead. It proposes “limited casino gaming” with 80 percent of the gaming tax going to DHHL.
DHHL Chairman and Chairman of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, William J. Aila Jr. commented before the vote, “We do have supporters in the Senate and in the House, is it enough to get it to pass? I have no idea but we are never going to have the opportunity unless we move forward today.”
Hawaii differs from other U.S. states in that it was once an independent kingdom. Instead of Indian reservations, it has 200,000 acres that were set aside by Congress as a Home Land for Native Hawaiians by the 1921 Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, which created the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.
That act was supported and spearheaded by one of the last members of the Hawaiian royal family, Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana‘ole.
DHHL Deputy Chairman Tyler Iokepa Gomes referred to the late prince when he was touting the possible economic benefits of such a casino. “Given the impact of COVID-19 on our economy, the Department is proposing a bold measure that’s proven successful for indigenous groups in generating critically needed revenue to improve the lives of their people,” he said. “We are at a pivotal moment in the history of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act and resources to develop infrastructure and acquire lands will be needed to fulfill the vision of Prince Kuhio.”
He added, “This bill is the single greatest opportunity that we have to put ourselves in the dominion of exercising economic self-sufficiency.”
He estimates the casino could raise $30 million annually to build homes for Native Hawaiians.
The following is what the commission approved: “The purpose of the act is to authorize limited casino gaming in the form of a single integrated resort property in Kapolei on Hawaiian Home Lands designated for commercial use in order to address historic funding shortfalls to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands made worse by the economic shutdown from the global pandemic.”
The idea of an Hawaiian casino faces a lot of backlash. State Senator Mike Gabbard (father of former presidential candidate Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard) is predicting opposition to a casino based on the bipartisan hostility to gaming in the state.
Gabbard links casinos with gambling addiction. He commented, “I don’t think gambling is a good idea for DHHL or Kapolei in general.” He added, “Their proposal brings up a lot of legal questions at the state level and even the federal level given the fact that Native Hawaiians have still not received federal recognition like Native Americans.”
He added, “I’d instead encourage DHHL to focus on those kinds of projects to raise revenue which are less controversial and have less of a social impact.”
The senator pointed out that the proposal has a rocky road on its way to the legislature: “If it gets that far, there will definitely be a very lively discussion and conversation about this in both chambers, I predict.”
University of Hawaii Travel Industry Management Professor Jerry Agrusa cites surveys that indicate gaming wouldn’t bring in any more tourists and that Native Hawaiians oppose gaming.
He told KHON2 “Yes, it might improve jobs, but overall, it was the social costs and the chance for organized crime and other addictions were just so high in their results.”
State Senator Kurt Fevella also opposes the casino. “Not just the Hawaiians are against this. A lot of non-Hawaiians are against this too because they don’t want their nice and beautiful family community to come to one gangsta casino.” He added, “You know and I know Vegas started with syndicate gangsta money.”
