STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3373

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1087

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Water, Land, Culture and the Arts, to which was referred H.B. No. 1087, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to allow the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to assume historic preservation review of the effect of any proposed project for lands under its jurisdiction, except under certain circumstances.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and four individuals.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committees find that historic preservation review is necessary to ensure the conservation of the State's historical and cultural heritage, however it can delay the completion of housing projects due to the specialized knowledge needed and high volume of requests received. This measure would streamline the historic preservation review process and ensure the timely review of projects proposed on lands under the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands' jurisdiction.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an appropriation of $400,000 for the establishment of the following positions:

(A) One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) historic preservation specialist;

(B) One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) archaeologist;

(C) One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) architectural historian; and

(D) One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) cultural historian;

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2026; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Water, Land, Culture and the Arts that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1087, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1087, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Water, Land, Culture and the Arts,

________________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair

________________________________ HERBERT M. RICHARDS, III, Chair