STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1200

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 1508

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1508, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NATIVE HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to improve Native Hawaiian communities and culture by appropriating funds for:

(1) A virtual marketplace that supports local artisans and businesses to adapt to e-commerce;

(2) A physical co-working space and an innovation, entrepreneur, and resource center; and

(3) The repatriation and reburial of Native Hawaiians nationally and internationally.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Kapolei Chamber of Commerce and Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Center for Hawaiian Sovereignty Studies. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1508, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair