STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1748

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.C.R. No. 189

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 189, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR, AND URGING THE INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC REPATRIATION OF, NATIVE HAWAIIAN ART, CULTURAL ITEMS, AND IWI KUPUNA,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the international and domestic reparation of Native Hawaiian art, cultural items, and iwi kupuna.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Kawaihapai Ohana, and four individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that the black-market trade of historic and cultural items constitutes one of the most persistent illegal trades in the world. Your Committee further finds that Native Hawaiian art, cultural items, iwi kupuna, and other historic artifacts, including the approximately five thousand items determined to be missing from Iolani Palace, have been subject to illegal theft and transfer out of the State.  Further, thousands of iwi kūpuna, moepū, and culturally significant items remain in museum collections around the world.  This measure seeks to address the loss of these important historical and cultural artifacts by urging the international and domestic repatriation of these items.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     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 H.C.R. No. 189, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 189, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair