Senate committee advances bill letting DHHL pursue geothermal exploration on Hawaiian homelands

The Senate Committee on Hawaiian Affairs voted to pass Senate Bill 151 with amendments that direct the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) to study and evaluate geothermal exploration on Hawaiian homelands and to form a permitted interaction group to advise the effort.

The bill, as amended, affirms DHHL’s authority to pursue geothermal resource testing on Hawaiian homelands and removes open-ended appropriation language that would have let the agency spend "as much as needed." Committee leaders also inserted a defective date of July 31, 2050, and added provisions requiring a permitted interaction group to study geothermal exploration, feasibility, extraction and use on DHHL lands.

DHHL staff and renewable-energy advocates told the committee that the measure is intended to give DHHL the tools to evaluate geothermal resources while protecting beneficiary interests. A DHHL deputy testified, “we are here in strong support of this measure, which would go to support our initiative for geothermal on Hawaiian homelands. I will stand on the written testimony, and if there's any questions, I can be here to address them.”

Mariah Yoshizu of the Ulupono Initiative told senators the bill would help Hawaii reach its 100 percent renewable portfolio standard by 2045 and “reaffirm the commitment to steward the Hawaiian homelands, by enabling DHHL to develop these resources and bring long term economic and environmental benefits to the native Hawaiian beneficiaries.”

Senators pressed DHHL staff for technical justification and budget detail. Russell Kaupu, a DHHL subject-matter staffer who led prior commission work on geothermal, described the initial testing approach: “it involves drilling a hole roughly about 8 inches in diameter, going down to depths that, you're checking for both water and heat,” and said the committee’s proposed slim‑hole testing would be at shallower depths characterized as water‑exploration under state rules rather than full geothermal exploration. Kaupu said DHHL had contracted VICA Consulting and completed geophysical testing at Mauna Kea’s east flank, and that geothermal suitability generally requires heat, water and subsurface permeability.

A senator asked whether the $20 million requested for fiscal years 2026–27 had supporting studies; Kaupu said DHHL commissioned a VICA Consulting study and subsequent geophysical testing and offered to provide the report to the committee. Kaupu also confirmed the measure’s appropriations would not be paid from DHHL trust funds.

Several public commenters urged more direct beneficiary consultation. One commenter referenced a recent court decision and warned that “no beneficiary consultation, no action,” saying the Hawaiian Homes Commission must consult beneficiaries before taking action. Committee leadership asked staff to address those public concerns in the committee report.

Action and vote: The committee recommendation was to pass SB 151 with amendments. The chair moved the recommendation; senators recorded aye votes from the chair and multiple members and several members were excused. The committee report will note follow‑up items requested by the chair, including responses to beneficiary‑consultation questions raised during testimony.

What’s next: SB 151 advances with the committee’s amendments. The committee asked DHHL to provide additional technical detail and to respond to beneficiary‑consultation concerns for inclusion in the committee report.