Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 1285, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to replace references to a panel or panel members to the kupuna council or kupuna council members, with regards to the regulation of traditional Hawaiian healing practices.

This measure also:

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, the Traditional Native Hawaiian Healing Center, and the Nanakuli Homestead Association. Comments on the measure were also submitted by Papa Ola Lokahi.

Your Committee finds that the protection and preservation of native Hawaiian practices is of paramount importance during these changing times. Efforts must be made to ensure that the ancient practices are neither lost nor altered. To this end, the less involvement in terms of government restrictions and regulations is crucial to the unfettered practice and preservation of traditional native Hawaiian healing practices. Your Committee determines that changes to the law are necessary in order to accurately represent the Hawaiian culture and the practice, through references to the kupuna council, through the removal of the threat of lawsuits associated with the internal regulation of the practice, and through the ability of the kupuna council to exist autonomously from the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1285, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1285, S.D. 2.