To express the policy of the United States regarding the United States' relationship with Native Hawaiians, to provide a process for the reorganization of a Native Hawaiian government and the recognition by the United States of the Native Hawaiian government, and for other purposes.

H.R. 617 establishes a formal legal process for Native Hawaiians to organize a unified government and receive federal recognition similar to the status held by many American Indian tribes and Alaska Native groups. The bill creates a dedicated office within the Department of the Interior to manage this relationship and sets up an interagency group to coordinate federal policies affecting Native Hawaiian resources and lands.

For citizens, the practical impact of this legislation would be the creation of a recognized governing body authorized to negotiate with the State of Hawaii and the U.S. government regarding the transfer and management of land, assets, and resources dedicated to Native Hawaiians. While the bill reaffirms the state’s current authority over these matters, it provides a framework for future agreements that could shift the administration of native-specific programs and lands to the newly recognized Native Hawaiian government.