STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2028-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 3247

S.D. 1

H.D. 3

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 3247, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a permanent Royal Mausoleum Commission within the Department of Land and Natural Resources to develop and implement a comprehensive management plan for the protection, maintenance, and interpretation of the Royal Mausoleum, also known as Mauna ʻAla, establish protocols for access and preservation of certain practices and selection of the official kahu or curator, advise agencies, and engage in education and outreach;

(2) Require the Royal Mausoleum Commission to report annually to the Legislature; and

(3) Recognize the kahu of Mauna ʻAla as the individual responsible for the cultural, traditional, and spiritual care of the iwi kūpuna interred at Mauna ʻAla.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs; Royal Order of Kamehameha I; Kiaʻi Iwi Alakaʻi; Royal House of Kawānanakoa; and three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from ʻAhahui Kaʻiulani; Daughters and Sons of the Hawaiian Warriors-Māmakakaua; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; ʻAha Hīpuʻu; and Hale O Nā Aliʻi O Hawaiʻi.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Designating the Governor as the appointing authority for representatives of the private entities or families to voluntarily serve on the Royal Mausoleum Commission; and

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

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 S.B. No. 3247, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3247, S.D. 1, H.D. 3.

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

____________________________

CHRIS TODD, Chair