STAND. COM. REP. NO. 137

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 467

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 467 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to enact the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Appropriations Act of 2017.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Hawaiian Affairs Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; Ko‘olau Foundation; Ko‘olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club; Na Lei Na‘auao; and numerous individuals.

     Your Committee finds that upon statehood in 1959, section 5(f) of the Admission Act directed the State to hold lands in trust for five purposes, one of which was the betterment of the conditions of Native Hawaiians.  In 1978 a Constitution Convention reviewed and revised the responsibilities of Hawai‘i's government. Among the provisions incorporated into the new state constitution was the establishment of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), as a public trust with mandates to better the conditions of Native Hawaiians and the Native Hawaiian community in general.  In 1979, the Legislature enacted Chapter 10, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes, which created OHA as a semi-autonomous self-governing body.

     OHA's mission is to malama (protect) Hawai‘i's people, environmental resources, and assets, toward ensuring the perpetuation of the culture, the enhancement of lifestyle, and the protection of entitlements of Native Hawaiians, while enabling the building of a strong and healthy Hawaiian people and nation, recognized nationally and internationally.  OHA is the principal public agency in the State responsible for the betterment of conditions of Native Hawaiians; the performance, development, and coordination of programs and activities relating to

Native Hawaiians; assessing the policies and practices of other agencies impacting Native Hawaiians; conducting advocacy efforts for Native Hawaiians; and serving as a receptacle for reparations.

     Your Committee further finds that OHA's services include the vital beneficiary programs of education, economic development, health, and legal services.  Your Committee further finds that any loss of government funding to beneficiary programs and the organizations that serve them will cause an increased demand for supplemental funding for OHA to ensure that the health, education and other daily needs of beneficiaries are met.  Experience indicates that reduced state appropriations have created a reduction in beneficiary assistance, from non-OHA programs, including but not limited to reductions in: emergency financial assistance programs; case management services which assist beneficiaries to access community resources; clinicians providing mental health and substance abuse counseling and support; and health monitoring/navigation programs that assist those with chronic disease to get needed medical care.

     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. 467 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair