STAND. COM. REP. NO. 239-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2104

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 2104 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ISLAND BURIAL COUNCILS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Extend the time to fill vacancies that occur during an Island Burial Council member's term;

(2) Provide per diem compensation in the form of a stipend for Island Burial Council members representing geographic regions; and

(3) Revise the Island Burial Councils' quorum for business to be a majority of the appointed council members.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Oʻahu Island Burial Council; Waialua Hawaiian Civic Club; The Queen's Court; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that over the past decade, there have been difficulties with filling vacant seats and maintaining quorum for the Hawaii, Maui/Lanai, Oahu, Kauai/Niihau, and Molokai Island Burial Councils. Your Committee further finds that this measure attempts to address these continuing challenges by allowing stipends for Island Burial Council members representing geographic regions for attending meetings and revising the Councils' quorum requirements.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its 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 record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2104, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2104, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair