STAND. COM. REP. NO. 251-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2473

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committees on Economic Development & Technology and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 2473 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE RECOGNITION OF A HAWAIIAN SENSE OF PLACE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Hawaiian Sense of Place Recognition Act;

(2) Require the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to develop educational and outreach programs to promote understanding and appreciation of the Hawaiian sense of place among residents, visitors, and public employees; and

(3) Require state agencies to incorporate Hawaiian sense of place principles into land planning, management, and state construction projects.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaiian Council and two individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from Office of Planning and Sustainable Development.

Your Committees find that maintaining the cultural, spiritual, environmental, and social relationships Native Hawaiians and Hawaii residents have with the land, or "Hawaiian sense of place", is vital to ensuring that Hawaii stays connected to its unique history and culture. This measure promotes understanding and appreciation of Hawaiian sense of place through education and outreach programs and planning, management, and development requirements for state agencies.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Economic Development & Technology and Labor that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2473, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2473, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Economic Development & Technology and Labor,

____________________________ JACKSON D. SAYAMA, Chair

____________________________ GREGGOR ILAGAN, Chair