Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 23, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to demonstrate the Legislature's:

More specifically, this measure requests that the Secretary of the Interior meet with representatives of the Hawaiian people to initiate the process of articulating and implementing a federal policy of Hawaiian self-government with a distinct, unique, and special trust relationship. Furthermore, Congress is urged to support any legislation introduced for the purpose of achieving Hawaiian self-government.

Testimony in support of the intent of the measure was received from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. A private citizen submitted comments and concerns on the measure.

Your Committee believes that the Hawaiian people, as the indigenous people of Hawaii, should enjoy the same rights as the indigenous Native Americans recognized by the federal government. Federal recognition would clarify the status of the Hawaiian people and shield them from legal challenges on their traditional and customary rights.

However, your Committee is also concerned over the exclusion of certain descendants of:

Your Committee finds that at the time of the overthrow, the Kingdom of Hawaii was a modern nation in the eyes of other recognized nations of the time. The Kingdom of Hawaii had executed and implemented treaties with its foreign counterparts and traded with nations on an equal footing. As such, your Committee believes that the citizens of the Kingdom of Hawaii, not just native Hawaiians, were affected by the actions of the United States when the United States annexed Hawaii and subsequently admitted it as a state.

Your Committee believes that as written, the measure does not adequately address the concerns and protect the rights of these descendants. It is your Committee's desire that representatives of these groups be included in subsequent discussions convened to further this issue.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 23, H.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.