STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3206

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2370

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2370, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO KALAUPAPA MONTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to statutorily designate January as "Kalaupapa month."

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Ka Ohana O Kalaupapa and fourteen individuals.

Your Committee finds that January is a significant month in the history of Kalaupapa peninsula on the island of Molokai, which includes: the arrival of the first leprosy patients in January 1866; the respective births of Mother Marianne and Father Damien in January 1838 and January 1840, who dedicated their lives to serving persons affected by leprosy; the January births of patients and eventual community leaders such as resident superintendent Ambrose Hutchison; and the modern observance, since 2014, of "Kalaupapa Sunday" on the fourth Sunday of each January. Accordingly, your Committee finds that the designation of January as "Kalaupapa month" is a fitting commemoration of Kalaupapa's importance and its contributions to the State.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2370, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair