STAND. COM. REP. NO.  45-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 1618

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Water & Land and Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1618 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to assist the Board of Land and Natural Resources in administering lands and resources with respect to native Hawaiian issues by requiring that at least one member of the Board have demonstrated expertise in native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices in accordance with specified educational, work history, or substantial experience criteria.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Hawaiian Affairs Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and several individuals testified in support of this measure.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water & Land and Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1618 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water & Land and Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________ FAYE P. HANOHANO, Chair

____________________________ CINDY EVANS, Chair