STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1906

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 73

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Water and Land, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 73, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE FORMATION OF A WORKING GROUP TO CREATE A PLAN REGARDING THE RETURN OF CULTURAL ARTIFACTS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the formation of a working group to create a plan regarding the return of cultural artifacts.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and two individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committees find that many of Hawaii's cultural artifacts have been transported out of the State and that, conversely, many persons within the State possess cultural artifacts that belong to other lands or indigenous groups. Your Committees find that it is necessary and proper to finally facilitate the return of these cultural artifacts to whom they rightfully belong. Therefore, this measure requests the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the State Historic Preservation Division to work together and establish a Cultural Artifact Return Working Group to request for the return of Hawaiian cultural artifacts and to arrange for the return of cultural artifacts held within the State that belong to others.

Your Committees have heard the testimony of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, expressing their concern that while the Department fully supports the purpose and intent of this measure, the Department lacks the necessary resources to properly take part in the requested working group.

Therefore, your Committees have amended this measure by replacing the State Historic Preservation Division with the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement to serve as Co-Chair of the requested Cultural Artifact Return Working Group.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 73, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 73, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

________________________________ MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair