Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1156 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) to establish and maintain a registry of all Hawaiians wherever they reside.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from OHA, the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, and an individual.

OHA is charged with the statutory responsibility under section 10-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, for acting for the benefit of Hawaiians, regardless of blood quantum and without regard to where they live. In order to allow OHA to effectively execute its duties, this measure is essential to identify who is being served.

According to OHA, it has established procedures for a registry, including adequate proof by documentation of ancestry and issuing an identification card of Hawaiian descent.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1156 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.