STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1304

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.C.R. No. 131

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 131 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BURIAL SITES WORKING GROUP TO REVIEW AND RECOMMEND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BURIAL SITES PROGRAM WITHIN THE STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION DIVISION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the establishment of a Burial Sites Working Group to review and recommend improvements to the Burial Sites Program within the State Historic Preservation Division.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from six individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Ka Lāhui Hawai‘i Kōmike Kalai‘āina, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that leaders of the Island Burial Councils have criticized the State for mismanagement of the Burial Sites Program, and many within the Native Hawaiian community have expressed frustration over inaction by the State Historic Preservation Division. Your Committee also finds that a Burial Sites Working Group could provide a mechanism to clarify issues, propose solutions, and improve the efficacy of the Burial Sites Program and the protections that it affords.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adjusting the number of Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners to be selected for the working group by the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives from two each to one each; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 131, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 131, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair