Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 1285 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make the kupuna council independent from the State and authorizes any individual regardless of race or ethnic origin to be certified by the kupuna council as a traditional Hawaiian healer.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, and Traditional Native Hawaiian Healing Center submitted testimony in support of this measure. Papa Ola Lokahi submitted comments.

Your Committees find that the State should remain removed from any regulation of traditional healing practices so that healers may practice the appropriate traditional Hawaiian protocol for their activities. Traditional Hawaiian healing is a dying art and is important to the health of the Hawaiian people. It is also crucial that the traditional native Hawaiian healing arts be preserved before the Kupuna passes on. This measure strengthens the language of the statute and protects those who participate in the traditional healing practices.

Upon further consideration, your Committees have amended this measure by deleting the word "native" instead of "Hawaiian" as suggested by the proponents to avoid a definition that could require a blood quantum.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1285, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1285, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing.