STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 705-26
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2026
RE: H.B. No. 2231
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. 2231 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ISLAND BURIAL COUNCILS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to transfer the appointment authority for Island Burial Council members from the Governor and Senate to the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
Your Committee finds that Island Burial Councils play a crucial role in determining the treatment of Native Hawaiian iwi and require full and timely membership to fulfill their responsibilities effectively. Your Committee further finds that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is uniquely positioned to ensure that appointments to Island Burial Councils are culturally appropriate, reflect genealogical connections, and maintain community trust.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Deleting language that would have authorized the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to adopt rules regarding appointment procedures and qualifications for Island Burial Council candidates;
(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and
(3) 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. 2231, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2231, 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,
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____________________________ MARK J. HASHEM, Chair |
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