STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1158

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   S.B. No. 1520

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 1520, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GOVERNMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to recognize the native Hawaiian people as the only indigenous, aboriginal, maoli people of Hawaii.

     The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Native Hawaiian Convention, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Imua Alliance, Sovereign Councils of the Hawaiian Homelands Assembly, and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  Several concerned individuals testified in opposition to this measure.  The Office of Hawaiian Affairs provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Revising the term "native Hawaiians" to read "Native Hawaiians" in most instances, based on testimony from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, so that issues of blood quantum do not arise;

     (2)  Changing its effective date to January 7, 2059, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1520, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1520, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

GILBERT KEITH-AGARAN, Chair