STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2532

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 2971
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B.
No. 2971 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
     STATEMENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to require environmental impact
statements to include the effects a proposed action may have on
the "welfare" and "cultural practices" of the community and
State.

     Currently, environmental impact statements generally address
the environmental, economic, and social welfare concerns of a
proposed project.  Your Committee, however, finds that the
failure to require native Hawaiian cultural impact assessments
has resulted in the loss and destruction of many important
cultural resources and has interfered with the exercise of native
Hawaiian culture.

     This bill provides the necessary consideration in
environmental impact statements to ensure the continued
existence, development, and exercise of native Hawaiian culture.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your

 
a                                                     SB2971
 
 
 
                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2532
                                   Page 2


Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No.
2971 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

                                 Respectfully submitted on behalf
                                 of the members of the Committee
                                 on Ways and Means,



                                 ________________________________
                                 CAROL FUKUNAGA, Co-Chair



                                 ________________________________
                                 ANDREW LEVIN, Co-Chair

 
a                                                     SB2971