SCR84.DOC

WHEREAS, the Royal Mausoleum at Mauna ‘Ala in Nu‘uanu, Honolulu, is the 2.7 acre sacred wahi pana of many of Hawai‘i's Ali‘i (sovereigns and chiefs) and their confidants; and

WHEREAS, Mauna ‘Ala is currently owned and managed by the Division of State Parks of the Department of Land and Natural Resources; and

WHEREAS, under the guidance of the Mauna ‘Ala Curator, Kahu William Bishop Kaihe‘ekai Maioho, the Department of Land and Natural Resources bears the primary responsibility for managing and maintaining Mauna ‘Ala, along with the support of the Estate of Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the Queen Lili‘uokalani Trust, the King Lunalilo Trust, the Abigail K.K. Kawānanakoa Foundation, The Queen's Health Systems, and the Charles Reed Bishop Trust, referred to collectively as the Royal Parties; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Royal Parties, and the Kahu of Mauna ‘Ala have engaged in a cooperative effort to fund and undertake badly needed repairs and renovations at Mauna ‘Ala; and

WHEREAS, there is a need to transfer the ongoing stewardship and maintenance of Mauna ‘Ala to one or more non-profit organizations with culturally-sensitive property management expertise, financial resources, and strong genealogical and cultural ties to Mauna ‘Ala to assist the Kahu of Mauna ‘Ala with the ongoing management and maintenance of Mauna ‘Ala for the benefit of the public; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2017, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to establish a working group to study the potential transfer of The Royal Mausoleum at Mauna ‘Ala to one or more appropriate non-profit organizations and recommend the terms for the transfer, management, and ongoing maintenance of Mauna ‘Ala; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to consist of the following eight members:

(1) The Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, or the Chairperson's designee;

(2) One representative from each of the Royal Parties; and

(3) Kahu William Bishop Kaihe‘ekai Maioho, Kahu of Mauna ‘Ala; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the working group select a chairperson from among themselves, and the chairperson is requested to schedule and convene working group meetings; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to:

(1) Determine whether it is in the best interest of the descendants of the Royal Parties and the people of Hawai‘i to transfer ownership and management of Mauna ‘Ala in perpetuity to one or more appropriate non-profit organizations with culturally-sensitive property management expertise, financial resources, and strong familial and cultural ties to Mauna ‘Ala; and

(2) If so, develop and recommend the terms of such transfer of Mauna ‘Ala, including any proposed state actions and a timeline for the implementation of such state actions; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit a report of the working group's findings, analyses, and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2018; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group cease to exist on June 30, 2018; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Estate of Bernice Pauahi Bishop, Queen Lili‘uokalani Trust, King Lunalilo Trust, Abigail K.K. Kawānanakoa Foundation, The Queen's Health Systems, Charles Reed Bishop Trust, and Kahu William Bishop Kaihe‘ekai Maioho.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Royal Mausoleum; DLNR Study; Working Group

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	84
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017
STATE OF HAWAII