Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 119 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the President and Congress of the United States to ratify the amendments made to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, as amended, as embodied in Act 302, Session Laws of Hawaii 2001. This measure also urges the President and Congress to recognize Hawaiian homestead community organizations as self-governing administrative authorities for their respective communities.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

Your Committee finds that in 2001, the Hawaii State Legislature passed and the Governor enacted Act 302, Session Laws of Hawaii 2001 (Act 302). The purpose of Act 302 was to amend the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, as amended, to promote increased self-governance by providing Hawaiian homestead community organizations with administrative authority over the affairs of their distinct native communities on Hawaiian Home Lands. To date, the United States Congress has failed to act on approving the amendments. This measure urges both the United States Congress and President to ratify the amendments made by Act 302 to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, as amended, to recognize Hawaiian homestead community organizations as self-governing administrative authorities for their respective communities.

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 H.C.R. No. 119, and recommends its adoption.