STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1866

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   S.B. No. 1853

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 1853, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NATIVE HAWAIIANS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure Hawaii's natural resources are protected and used responsibly by:

(1)  Establishing the Aha Moku Commission to assist in the formation of regional Aha Moku Councils, which shall serve in an advisory capacity on all matters regarding the management of the state's natural resources; and

(2)  Requiring the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to seek advisory assistance from the Aha Moku Councils in developing a comprehensive set of best practices for natural resource management. 

     The Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Pearl Harbor Hawaiian Civic Club, and Princess Ka‘iulani Hawaiian Civic Club supported this bill.  DLNR and the Nature Conservancy supported the intent of this measure.  The Office of Hawaiian Affairs opposed this bill.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1853, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1853, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair