STAND. COM. REP. NO. 211

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 981

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

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 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require members of appropriate state councils, boards, and commissions to undergo training conducted by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs on Native Hawaiian and Hawaiian rights and the source of these rights.  The intent of this measure is to assist the council, board, and commission members in understanding how infringement of these rights impacts the native Hawaiian and Hawaiian people.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, and one individual.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources submitted comments.

     Your Committee finds that certain councils, boards, and commissions administer public trust resources and programs that directly impact Native Hawaiian traditional and customary rights, natural resource protection and access rights, and the public trust.  However, despite the broad range of expertise and experience of the individuals selected to serve on these councils, boards, and commissions, your Committee finds that many members may not possess knowledge of the unique rights and responsibilities that relate to the Native Hawaiian community.  The training course, which would incorporate instruction from resource individuals with legal, historical, and cultural expertise, is intended to address this deficiency.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     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, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 981, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

BRICKWOOD GALUTERIA, Chair