Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 189 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge support for Malama O Kamali'i Makamae in its efforts to develop care home facilities for needy children of Hawaiian ancestry.

Malama O Kamali'i Makamae submitted testimony in support of the measure.

Your Committees find that there are many children needing a safe environment to stay in long-term while their parents or guardians seek help for their own problems. The State's child protective services and foster care system is inundated with requests for services and many social workers are experiencing case overloads. Developing care home facilities for children to promote improvement in physical and emotional well-being and increase their self-esteem and academic and cultural learning is imperative. Malama O Kamali'i Makamae is one such organization that is dedicated to providing a wellness refuge for children to grow and be successful and productive members in their communities. Its focus on children of Hawaiian ancestry will assist a particularly vulnerable segment of this population.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 189 and recommend its adoption.