STAND. COM. REP. NO. 675

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 14

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 14 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN HAWAIIAN CULTURAL CENTERS WITHIN THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to establish and maintain Hawaiian cultural centers within the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Ko‘olau Foundation.

Your Committee finds that Native Hawaiians and their rich and vibrant culture are what continues to make Hawaii unique and different from other places in the world. However, your Committee finds that despite the importance of Hawaiian culture in the State, there are no public spaces solely dedicated to the practice and perpetuation of Hawaiian culture. Therefore, this measure requests the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to establish and maintain Hawaiian cultural centers within the State.

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 S.C.R. No. 14 and recommends its adoption.

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

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MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair