Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 463 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate $650,000 to Papa Ola Lokahi to support Hawaiian health care initiatives.

Testimony in support of the measure was received from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the State Council of Hawaiian Homestead Associations, the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, the Hawaii Primary Health Care Association, and Papa Ola Lokahi.

Your Committees find that Papa Ola Lokahi and the Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems were established by congressional mandate via the Native Hawaiian Health Care Act in 1988 and reauthorized in 1992. Papa Ola Lokahi is a consortium of public agencies and private nonprofit organizations concerned with native Hawaiian health issues as well as the health and well-being of all of Hawaii's people.

This year, Papa Ola Lokahi received $6.25 million from the federal government to carry out its mandated purpose. Of that amount, the Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems stands to receive $5 million in funding if it can secure twenty per cent of the total to match federal moneys. Of the $1 million needed to match federal funds, Papa Ola Lokahi is requesting that the State provide $650,000 as stated in the measure.

Your Committees believe that the Hawaiian people, as well as the State as a whole, stand to benefit substantially if the State provides funds to assist Papa Ola Lokahi in matching federal moneys already appropriated.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 463 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.