CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 34-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2008

RE:    S.B. No. 2499

       H.D. 1

       C.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2499, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TARO,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to facilitate the establishment of kalo as the official State plant by making Act 36, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, effective upon the completion of dialogue with Native Hawaiians, students from all islands, and those who identify themselves as Hawaiians, to be completed by the Department of Education through its existing curriculum.

     Your Committee on Conference have amended this measure by making Act 36, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, effective upon the completion of the following:

     (1)  The Office of Hawaiian Affairs publishes, in its statewide publication, a statement that establishes the importance of Act 36 in promoting and preserving Hawaii's unique cultural heritage;

     (2)  The Office of Hawaiian Affairs conducts community meetings in each county of the State that allows for public input and dialogue regarding the provisions of Act 36, if the Office of Hawaiian Affairs determines that there is sufficient interest from the public in participating in these community meetings; and

     (3)  The Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, at a duly-noticed meeting, votes in the affirmative to declare that the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) have been met.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2499, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2499, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE, Co-Chair	____________________________ JILL TOKUDA, Chair
____________________________ KEN ITO, Co-Chair
____________________________ ROY TAKUMI, Co-Chair
____________________________ TOMMY WATERS, Co-Chair