STAND. COM. REP. NO.  996

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   S.B. No. 981

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 981, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to protect native Hawaiian and Hawaiian traditional customary rights by requiring:

     (1)  Members of certain state councils, boards, and commissions to undergo training conducted by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) on issues related to native Hawaiian rights; and

     (2)  OHA to establish, design, and facilitate a training course related to native Hawaiian and Hawaiian traditional and customary rights.

     OHA, the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Aha Kiole Advisory Committee, and Sovereign Councils of the Hawaiian Homelands Assembly testified in support of this bill.  A concerned individual opposed this measure.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources and Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to "upon approval"; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 981, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 981, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

FAYE HANOHANO, Chair