STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3796

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 121

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 121 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE COUNTIES AND THE STATE TO WORK WITH HUAMAKAHIKINA AND KUMU HULA TO ESTABLISH POLICIES PROTECTING HULA,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request that the counties and the State work with Huamakahikina and Kumu Hula to establish policies protecting hula.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Waimea Hawaiian Civic Club, Huamakahikina, and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that hula is a centuries-old dance form with a rich and important cultural and spiritual background. However, the increasing exposure of Hawaii in popular media among other factors has led to the misrepresentation and exploitation of hula, including spreading incorrect choreography, designs, and proper names. There is currently insufficient acknowledgment of Kumu Hula in the professional labor market and insufficient protection for hula intellectual property rights. Therefore, the purpose of this measure is to request that the counties and government of Hawaii work with Huamakahikina and Kumu Hula to establish new policies to protect hula and requisition increased resources, including public funding and facilities, to ensure the protection of hula to allow it to continue and flourish.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 121 and recommends its adoption.

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

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MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair