HB144

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	144
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO MAUNA KEA.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that, in recent years, Mauna Kea has symbolized a rigid dichotomy between culture and science, often leading to polarization between Mauna Kea stakeholders. Many people perceived that Mauna Kea was being managed without sufficient and genuine consultation with the Native Hawaiian community, which had the cumulative effect of degrading trust between the community and those responsible for managing Mauna Kea.

To overcome this dichotomy and facilitate a more harmonious coexistence of activities atop Mauna Kea in a culturally sensitive manner, the legislature enacted Act 255, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022 (Act 255), which established the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority. The major reforms offered by Act 255 were intended to be a step toward restoring trust and balance in the stewardship of Mauna Kea.

The legislature recognizes that the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority has been asked to help a very diverse group of stakeholders overcome decades of distrust to find solutions to very difficult and complex issues. The legislature believes that to promote trust and engagement between these stakeholders, the stakeholders must be able to have frank and open discussions to reach an understanding. The task of crafting reconciliation will likely require countless hours of open discussion and education.

The legislature further recognizes that it may be difficult for authority members to conduct these activities within the inflexible confines of the State's public agency meeting laws. The legislature also recognizes that the authority has a limited amount of time to resolve the issues before it: Section 195H-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, provides for a transition period of five years, during which the authority must develop detailed management and financial plans, establish a framework for astronomy-related development, adopt administrative rules, and prepare to assume full management of Mauna Kea.

Accordingly, the legislature believes that the authority should be granted some flexibility during the transition period to conduct meetings without strictly complying with chapter 92, Hawaii Revised Statutes. This flexibility should be narrowly tailored to allow authority members to discuss challenging issues in a culturally sensitive manner. Public transparency and accountability must be maintained by prohibiting the authority from taking any decision-making actions at these types of meetings.

The legislature further finds that the creation of the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority was meant to be a pivot point in the history of Mauna Kea, rather than a final resolution. Section 195H-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, expressly recognizes that additional amendments relating to the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority would be necessary to address principles and details surrounding Mauna Kea that had not yet been ascertained when Act 255 became law.

Accordingly, this Act makes certain amendments relating to the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority, as contemplated under section 195H-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to ensure that a mutually beneficial balance is maintained for Mauna Kea and the people of Hawaii.

Specifically, the purpose of this Act is to authorize two or more members of the Mauna Kea stewardship and oversight authority, including a number of members that would constitute a quorum, to meet during the transition period; provided that:

(1) No commitment to vote is made or sought; and

(2) Decision-making, if any, occurs only at a duly noticed meeting of the authority.

SECTION 2. Chapter 195H, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§195H- Transition period; authority meetings; permitted interactions; restrictions. (a) Notwithstanding section 92-2.5(b) or any other law to the contrary, two or more members of the authority, including a number of members that would constitute a quorum of the authority, may meet during the transition period described in section 195H-6 regarding any matter relating to the authority's business; provided that:

(1) No commitment to vote shall be made or sought; and

(2) Decision-making, if any, shall occur at a duly noticed meeting of the authority held pursuant to chapter 92.

(b) An interaction of authority members described in subsection (a) shall not constitute a meeting for the purposes of part I of chapter 92."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________