STAND. COM. REP. NO.191

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 638

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 638 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide for the election and election procedures of members to the Hawaiian Homes Commission (HHC) by Hawaiian voters.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) and one individual.

This measure affirms the right of native Hawaiians and Hawaiian Home Lands lessees to self-determination. The Governor appoints the members of the HHC under existing law. By allowing an election of members to the HHC, which under this measure is similarly limited to native Hawaiians and lessees, the HHC would truly represent native Hawaiians.

Your Committee notes that under this measure the nine HHC members would be registered voters in their respective islands and would be apportioned as follows: two from the island of Hawaii, with one residing in East Hawaii in the districts of Puna, South Hilo, North Hilo, or Hamakua, and one residing in West Hawaii in one of the districts of North Kohala, South Kohala, North Kona, South Kona, and Kau; one from the island of Maui; one from the island of Molokai; one from the island of Kauai; and four from the island of Oahu. A tenth ex-officio member is the Director of the DHHL.

Jurisdiction over the HHC elections under this measure would be with the DHHL and, while DHHL lacks experience in conducting elections, your Committee is confident in the expertise and resources of the DHHL to rise to the occasion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 638 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

COLLEEN HANABUSA, Chair