STAND. COM. REP. NO. 919

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 733

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 733 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAWAIIAN CULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to mandate the establishment and maintenance of, require certain reports regarding, and appropriate moneys relating to Hawaiian cultural centers within the State.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from one individual.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Center for Hawaiian Sovereignty Studies.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Your Committee finds that Native Hawaiian culture and history make Hawaii a unique place in the world. Your Committee believes that the establishment of the cultural centers proposed by this measure will help bring proper recognition of this culture and history.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Referring to the proposed centers as "Native Hawaiian cultural centers;"

(2) Providing that each Native Hawaiian cultural center shall focus on elevating and uplifting the Native Hawaiian people;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 733, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 733, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair