STAND. COM. REP. NO.  35

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 1947

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on International Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1947 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PLAN FOR AND TO HOST THE INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS HEALTH CONFERENCE, "HEALING OUR SPIRIT WORLDWIDE" IN HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to support the cultures and traditions of indigenous peoples worldwide by appropriating the sum of $125,000 to help plan for the Healing Our Spirit Worldwide Conference to be hosted in Hawaii in 2010.

     Since 1992, under the leadership of the International Indigenous Council, native-peoples organizations have hosted this health conference in Sydney, Australia; Rotorua, New Zealand; Albuquerque, United States; and Edmonton, Canada.  The 1992 gathering in Edmonton attracted 3,300 individuals.

     Papa Ola Lokahi and the Native Hawaiian Health Board testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism supported the intent of this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1947 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on International Affairs,

____________________________

RIDA T.R. CABANILLA, Chair