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.C.R. No. 54 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to form a coalition to discuss the pending needs of the Hawaiian community regarding documentation needed to support Hawaiian identity to qualify for federal recognition, and to determine how the State can assist and participate.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Department of Health and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands supported the intent of the measure and provided comments.

Your Committee finds that there are bills pending in the United States Congress that propose federal recognition for Hawaiians, and encourage self-determination and self-government. If these bills pass, access to vital statistics records held by the Department of Health will be crucial to verifying enrollment qualification. For these reasons, your Committee agrees that the coalition should be convened.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 54 and recommends its adoption.