Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2935, S.D. 1, entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to provide the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) financing by authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds for the construction of an administrative office, community kitchen, business center, credit union, and other facilities to accommodate service providers, activities, and services of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs as part of DHHL's Kapolei residential project.

DHHL, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, O'ahu Council of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Ko'olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club, Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce, Waimea Hawaiian Civic Club, Ali'i Pauahi Hawaiian Civic Club, Wai'anae Hawaiian Civic Club, Nanaikapono Hawaiian Civic Club, Na Keiki O Hawaii Hawaiian Civic Club of Anchorage, Alaska, Pearl Harbor Hawaiian Civic Club, Kohala Hawaiian Civic Club, Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu, Princess Ka'iulani Hawaiian Civic Club, Chaminade University of Honolulu, and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.

The Representative of the 44^th District supported the intent of the bill but explained that both Hawaiian civic clubs and DHHL were created by Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana'ole: DHHL to negotiate a homestead program with the federal government on behalf of Hawaii and Hawaiian civic clubs as an advocate for DHHL. However, Nanakuli Hawaiian Homes Community Association (NHHCA), a beneficiary of the Hawaiian Home Lands, previously had to seek state funds to improve DHHL community property, because DHHL did not support NHHCA grant-in-aid requests. In this respect, the Representative believed that this measure was setting a precedent in that it permits DHHL to use resources for the benefit of non-beneficiaries when its own beneficiaries have not been fully served.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2935, S.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.