The audit, released in April, detailed failures in meeting fiduciary obligations and lax management of lessee loans.

Committee Chairman Brickwood Galuteria said the Legislature wants to be convinced that DHHL has begun to correct problems found in the audit — that “today we start recalibrating DHHL’s loan program.”

Sen. Clayton Hee took issue with what he described as the audit’s underlying determination that beneficiaries with delinquent leases be evicted — “taking a Hawaiian away from the land.” Noting the Legislature’s recent efforts to push loan mitigation, Hee argued that homesteaders deserve similar help.

DHHL Director Jobie Masagatani said she agreed loan mitigation is “the way to go” and said that the department is implementing steps to address the audit’s findings.

Galuteria said he looked forward to DHHL’s report back on progress later this year.

As 5:10 p.m., the briefing was well into its third hour and the crowd had dwindled. But discussion was nearing an end.

—Chad Blair