STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2353

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2580

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2580 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Appropriate funds to the Department of Accounting and General Services to establish one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position for the Executive Director of the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission; and

(2) Appropriate funds for costs arising out of the annual King Kamehameha Day celebration events.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission; Daughters of Hawaii; Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu; Ho‘omana Pono, LLC; Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; Hawaiian Affairs Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; and eleven individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the State Council on Hawaiian Heritage.

Your Committees find that the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission was established in 1939 by the Territorial Legislature of Hawaii to celebrate and honor the great King who unified the Hawaiian islands. This Commission is tasked with carrying on the legacy of King Kamehameha and reminding the people of Hawaii about Hawaiian history. Your Committees applaud the work the Commission has accomplished so far and recognize the difficulties that the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission is facing regarding lack of proper staffing to coordinate the King Kamehameha Day celebration. Your Committees believe that it is important to provide sufficient funding for the Commission to effectively prepare for events.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Judiciary that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2580 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Judiciary,

________________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair

________________________________ MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair