STAND. COM. REP. NO. 942

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1368

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1368 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE KING KAMEHAMEHA CELEBRATION COMMISSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Add a member of the Daughters of Hawai‘i as a member of the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission;

     (2)  Require staff hired by the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission to be paid from state funds, as opposed to fees, public contributions, and private donations; and

     (3)  Appropriate funds for the operating costs of the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission, Makaha Hawaiian Civic Club, Waimanalo Hawaiian Homes Association, Kalihi Palama Hawaiian Civic Club, and five individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services.

     Your Committee finds that this measure adds representation from the Daughters of Hawai‘i to the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission after a long hiatus.  The Daughters of Hawai‘i bring a wealth of business and philanthropic experience to the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission.  This measure also authorizes funding for the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission from general funds, which had been eliminated in 2000 due to state budget constraints.  The King Kamehameha Celebration Commission has estimated that its personnel and operating costs are $24,040 annually.

     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 H.B. No. 1368, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair