Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 451 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds for the planning, design, and engineering of an Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) building and a Hawaiian community center, to fulfill OHA's mission of bettering the conditions of Hawaiians.

OHA submitted testimony in support of this bill. A concerned individual opposed this bill.

Your Committee finds that the construction of an OHA building will enhance OHA's ability to better the conditions of Hawaiians. The combined office space and Hawaiian community center would serve as OHA's headquarters to showcase Hawaiian culture through exhibits, displays, and events, and offer office and meeting space to native Hawaiians and non-native-Hawaiian organizations, all of which would enhance the Hawaiian community as a whole, as well as the greater community of Hawaii.

It is critical that the State maintain its share of funding for programs that will sustain the cultural and political status of the Hawaiian people.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this bill by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 451, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 451, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.