STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1494

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 89

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 89 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS NATION-BUILDING PLAN, HO‘OULU LAHUI ALOHA, TO RAISE A BELOVED NATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to support the efforts to provide Native Hawaiians with greater opportunity for self-determination and self-sufficiency by supporting the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' efforts to establish a nation-building plan.

     Specifically, this measure outlines the components of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' nation-building plan, which includes:

     (1)  The registration of Native Hawaiians in Kau Inoa, a campaign that gathers the names of people of Hawaiian ancestry who are willing to participate in the process of nation building;

     (2)  The development of an apportionment plan of representative districts based on eligible voter population; and

     (3)  The election of representative delegates who will attend a constitutional convention to create organic documents of the Native Hawaiian governing entity, and the ratification of these documents.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, the Pearl Harbor Hawaiian Civic Club, the Princess Ka‘iulani Hawaiian Civic Club, the Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu, Hawai‘i Maoli, the ‘Ilio‘ulaokalani Coalition, and five individuals.

     Your Committee finds that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is spearheading an effort to create a Native Hawaiian governing entity through the creation of a formal document, The Nation-Building Plan to Establish a Native Hawaiian Governing Entity, with the participation from the Native Hawaiian community.  The purpose of the nation-building plan is to enable Native Hawaiians to preside over their own resources and assets and determine their own future.

     Your Committee was concerned with the intent of this measure and its connection with the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2007, also known as the "Akaka Bill", especially when both efforts seem connected with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.  It was clarified for your Committee that the nation-building plan and the Akaka Bill are completely separate efforts.  The Office of Hawaiian Affairs distinguished the nation-building plan from the Akaka Bill by indicating that the nation-building plan is purely a grassroots effort.  It was further clarified that the intent of this measure is to work with the various Native Hawaiian organizations statewide, provide opportunities for Native Hawaiians to get involved and encourage them to register with Kau Inoa, and obtain a consensus of Native Hawaiians as a single, succinct group of individuals.  Thus, your Committee notes that the intent of the nation-building plan is not to select a type of governing body for a Native Hawaiian governing entity, but is an opportunity for Native Hawaiians to convene, provide input, voice their concerns, and participate in the process of nation-building.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 89 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN, Chair