STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1382

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: H.C.R. No. 181

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land Use, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 181 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO REQUIRE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS TO HAVE CULTURAL CONSULTANTS AND MONITORS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to respect and honor ancestral bones when found at construction sites by requesting the State Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to require construction projects to have cultural consultants and monitors.

Several concerned individuals testified in support of this measure. DLNR and a concerned individual testified in opposition to this measure.

Concerns were raised by individuals that proper respect, honor, and cultural responsibility are at times not followed by construction projects that discover Iwi Kupuna, or ancestral bones. Your Committee finds that Hawaii is steeped in cultural heritage and that the focus of this measure should be seen from a much broader range of cultural responsibilities rather than only on the issue of burials and human remains. Although concerns were raised that the proper agency to carry out the requests set forth in this measure may be the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, your Committee finds that DLNR is currently responsible for the evaluation of construction sites and the disposition of any Iwi Kupuna found, and therefore should be the lead agency.

Your Committee would like to respectfully request that landowners and property managers display greater cultural sensitivity and greater integrity when handling Iwi Kupuna, or any other archaeologically significant finds.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land Use, and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 181 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land Use, and Hawaiian Affairs,

 

____________________________

EZRA R. KANOHO, Chair