STAND. CON. REP. NO. 1-3cc?
Honolulu, Hawaii
APR 03 , 2025
RE: H.R. No. 186
H.D. 2
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was
referred H.R. No. 186, H.D. 1, entitled:
“HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS
TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO EXAMINE AND CONSIDER THE
TRANSFER OF NATIVE HAWAIIAN BURIAL SITE MANAGEMENT UNDER
CHAPTER 6E, HAWAII REVISED STATUTES, FROM THE STATE HISTORIC
PRESERVATION DIVISION TO THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS,”
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to request the Office of
Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) to convene a working group to examine the
possibility of transferring the management of Native Hawaiian
burial sites from the State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD)
to OHA. The working group is tasked with making recommendations on
how to enhance the effectiveness of the burial sites program,
addressing issues in legislation, and potentially improving the
process for protecting Native Hawaiian burial sites.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from seven individuals. Your Committee received testimony in
opposition of this measure from two individuals.
Your Committee finds that the protection of Native Hawaiian
burial sites is a critical cultural and historical responsibility.
Convening a working group to explore transferring management from
HR186 HD2 HSCR JHA
 STAND. COM. REP. NO.
SHPD to OHA will help assess how to enhance oversight, improve
legislative frameworks, and strengthen burial site protections.
This effort seeks to ensure that stewardship aligns with Native
Hawaiian values and community priorities.
Your Committee has amended this measure by editing the
community membership provision at page 5 line 31-35 by:
(1) Striking out language that reads “that self-identify and
represent unique Native Hawaiian Organizations’t; and
(2) Adding in language to read “including but not limited to
recognized lineal and cultural descendants, who self-
identify and submit their narrtes for selection by a
majority”; and
(3) Striking out the language that reads “to be selected
randomly by the working group from a list of submitted
names”.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this
report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R.
No. 186, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in
the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 186, H.D. 2.
Respectfully submitted on
behalf of the members of the
Committee on Judiciary &
Hawaiian Affairs,
M~L1
DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair
HR186 HD2 HSCR JHA
 State of Hawaii
House of Representatives
The Thirty-third Legislature
4’I &C. ? (~cc~
Record of Votes of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs
Bill/Resolution No.: Committee Referral: Date:
~iR~Co ~-j~ L~f~L.1(jHA O~fo~(2-O2_~
0 The committee is reconsidering its previous decision on the measure.
The recommendation is to: 0 Pass, unamended (as is) Pass, with amendments (HD) 0 Hold
0 Pass short form bill with HD to recommit for future public hearing (recommit)
JHA Members Ayes Ayes (WR) Nays Excused
1. TARNAS, David A. (C)
~
2. POEPOE, Mahina (VC)
-~--
3. BELATTI, Della Au V
~
4. COCHRAN, Elle
~
V
5. HASHEM, Mark J.
6. KAHALOA, Kirstin
7. PERRUSO, Amy A. V
8. TAKAYAMA, Gregg V
~
9. TODD, Chris
—
10. GARCIA, Diamond
-~
11. SHIMIZU, Garner M. V
TOTAL (11) /0 J25’
The recommendation is: Adopted ~ Not Adopted
If joint referral, did not support recommendation.
committee acronym(s)
Vice Chair’s or designee’s signature:
Distribution: Original (White) — Committee Duplicate (Yellow) — Chief Clerks Office Duplicate (Pink) — HMSO