HB2047

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the aha moku advisory committee was established to bring together traditional Hawaiian knowledge and modern natural resource management practices based on the traditional aha kiole.

The legislature further finds that section 171-4.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which establishes the aha moku advisory committee, has not been updated since its adoption in 2012. Revisions to the statute are required to set and clarify accountability and transparency standards to optimize the benefit of the aha moku program to the Native Hawaiian community, while ensuring alignment with natural resource management priorities and the original intent and purpose of the establishment of the aha moku advisory committee within the state government.

The legislature also finds that the aha moku advisory committee has not consistently fulfilled requirements established by statute or administrative rules, including annual reporting and compliance with open meeting laws.

The purpose of this Act is to:

(1) Establish clear procedures for the recruitment, appointment, evaluation, and removal of the executive director of the aha moku advisory committee;

(2) Clarify that the chairperson of the board of land and natural resources shall exercise appointment, oversight, and administrative authority over the executive director of the aha moku advisory committee; and

(3) Strengthen and reinforce reporting and meeting requirements applicable to the aha moku advisory committee.

SECTION 2. Chapter 171, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§171- Aha moku advisory committee; executive director.

(a) The chairperson may appoint an executive director for the aha moku advisory committee who shall be exempt from chapter 76. The chairperson shall be responsible for the management, supervision, and oversight of the executive director, shall evaluate the performance of the executive director, and shall ensure the executive director carries out the statutory responsibilities of the position.

(b) To be eligible for the position of executive director of the aha moku advisory committee, an applicant for the position shall possess the following minimum qualifications:

(1) Demonstrate knowledge of Native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices related to natural resource management, including familiarity with the aha moku system or comparable place-based management frameworks;

(2) Demonstrate experience working with Native Hawaiian communities, cultural practitioners, or community-based natural resource management organizations;

(3) Have experience in program administration, organizational leadership, or project management;

(4) Be able to work collaboratively with state agencies, boards, commissions, and community stakeholders;

(5) Demonstrate understanding of environmental laws, policies, and governance systems or the ability to acquire such understanding within a reasonable period following appointment;

(6) Demonstrate understanding of Hawaii's open meeting laws; and

(7) Hold any additional qualifications established by the department that are consistent with the duties of the aha moku advisory committee.

(c) The executive director of the aha moku advisory committee shall serve a term of four years and may be reappointed by the chairperson to one or more subsequent terms.

(d) The executive director of the aha moku advisory committee may hire an administrative or executive assistant to assist the executive director in accomplishing the duties of the committee.

(e) The chairperson shall conduct an annual performance review of the executive director of the aha moku advisory committee and prior to any term of reappointment of the executive director. The performance review shall include:

(1) An evaluation of the executive director's performance in carrying out statutory duties and program goals;

(2) Consideration of input from the aha moku councils of each island, relevant state agencies, and the public; and

(3) A summary of accomplishments, challenges, and future priorities.

(f) At the end of each four-year term, the chairperson may:

(1) Reappoint the executive director of the aha moku advisory committee, subject to completion of a satisfactory performance review required under subsection (e); or

(2) Appoint a new executive director from among the qualified applicants of the open recruitment process conducted pursuant to subsection (h);

provided that the board shall confirm the executive director.

(g) The chairperson may remove the executive director of the aha moku advisory committee for cause; provided that the board shall be notified in writing within ten days of the removal.

(h) In the event of a vacancy or expected vacancy in the office of executive director of the aha moku advisory committee, the department shall conduct an open recruitment process to fill the vacancy. The open recruitment process shall include, at minimum:

(1) Public notice of the vacancy or expected vacancy;

(2) A description of the duties and minimum qualifications of the position and the term of appointment; and

(3) A reasonable application period."

SECTION 3. Section 171-4.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§171-4.5[]] Aha moku advisory committee; established. (a) There is established the aha moku advisory committee to be placed within the department [~~of land and natural resources~~] for administrative purposes. The committee may advise the chairperson [~~of the board of land and natural resources~~] in carrying out the purposes of this section.

(b) The committee shall consist of eight members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate from a list of nominations submitted by the aha moku councils of each island. Oversight of the aha moku advisory committee shall be by the chairperson [~~of the board of land and natural resources~~]. The committee members shall select the committee chairperson from among the members.

(c) The members shall not receive compensation for their service, but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses, including travel expenses, incurred while participating in meetings and events approved in advance by the chairperson [~~of the board of land and natural resources~~].

[The aha moku advisory committee may hire an executive director who shall be exempt from chapter 76. The executive director may hire an administrative or executive assistant to assist the executive director in accomplishing the purposes of the aha moku advisory committee.]

(d) The aha moku advisory committee may provide advice on the following:

(1) Integrating indigenous resource management practices with western management practices in each moku;

(2) Identifying a comprehensive set of indigenous practices for natural resource management;

(3) Fostering the understanding and practical use of native Hawaiian resource knowledge, methodology, and expertise;

(4) Sustaining the State's marine, land, cultural, agricultural, and natural resources;

(5) Providing community education and fostering cultural awareness on the benefits of the aha moku system;

(6) Fostering protection and conservation of the State's natural resources; and

(7) Developing an administrative structure that oversees the aha moku system.

(e) Any formal position, recommendation, or advisory action of the committee shall be adopted at a duly noticed public meeting at which a quorum is present.

[~~(e)~~] (f) The committee shall submit an annual report in English and Hawaiian to the governor, legislature, and [~~the~~] chairperson [~~of the board of land and natural resources~~] no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular legislative session. The annual report shall include [a]:

(1) The activities of the committee;

(2) A copy, or an electronic link to the electronic copy, of all testimonies submitted, the agenda, and minutes for each committee meeting;

(3) Issues considered by the committee and positions taken by each committee member;

(4) A summary of each committee member's activities, including how the public was informed and engaged by the member, and the issues that were brought forward or addressed through the aha moku process;

(5) Itemized expenditures; and

(6) A list of all recommendations made by the committee and the resulting action taken by the department over the course of the prior year."

SECTION 4. (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, in order to be eligible for reappointment as the executive director of the aha moku advisory committee, the executive director serving as of the effective date of this Act shall, within twelve months of the effective date of this Act:

(1) Submit a written application through the open recruitment process established pursuant to section 171- , Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(2) Satisfy the minimum qualifications established under section 171- , Hawaii Revised Statutes, for the position; and

(3) Receive a satisfactory performance review from the chairperson of the board of land and natural resources under section 171- , Hawaii Revised Statutes.

(b) The executive director of the aha moku advisory committee serving as of the effective date of this Act may continue to serve during the interim between the effective date of this Act and either the reappointment of the executive director or appointment of a new executive director, unless sooner removed by the chairperson of the board of land and natural resources.

(c) The position of executive director of the aha moku advisory committee shall be deemed vacant if the executive director serving as of the effective date of this Act fails to meet the requirements of subsection (a).

SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2047
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII