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 S.C.R. No. 111 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to strongly urge federal recognition of the Hawaiian people as an indigenous group, with all the rights to which that status is entitled.

The measure also strongly urges that Hawaiian charitable organizations, including Kamehameha Schools, the Queen Liliu'okalani Children's Center, and Lunalilo Home, be recognized as unique institutions protected by law and that the federal government support the concept and process of some type of Hawaiian autonomy, as negotiated between the federal government and Hawaiian people.

Testimony in support of the measure was received from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Your Committee finds that throughout history, much has been done to protect the health and welfare of the Hawaiian people. Hawaiian royalty, such as King Lunalilo, Queen Liliu'okalani, and Ali'i Bernice Pauahi Bishop created trusts designed to assist Hawaiians, such as the Lunalilo Home for elderly Hawaiians; Kamehameha Schools, to educate Hawaiian children, and the Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center, to provide outreach to Hawaiian families. The federal government adopted the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920 in an attempt to assist the Hawaiian people by providing them with leasehold residences and agricultural lots. In 1978, the people of Hawaii, by constitutional amendment, approved the creation of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to assist the Hawaiian people.

Your Committee also finds that the people of Hawaii generally support the continuance of these institutions that were created to assist the Hawaiian people. To this end, your Committee believes that the State of Hawaii should show its strong support for the unique heritage of the Hawaiian people, and help enable them to achieve autonomy.

Your Committee has amended the measure by adding the accomplishments of King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma in establishing the Queen's Foundation and Hospital to the list of trusts established by Hawaiian royalty and by changing a reference to "Hawaiian autonomy" to "Native Hawaiian autonomy" to make the measure consistent with federal legislation moving through Congress at this time.

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 S.C.R. No. 111, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 111, S.D. 1.