STAND. COM. REP. NO. 750-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2473

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2473, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs 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 and implement 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 Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiian Council; ACLU of Hawaiʻi; and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development.

Your Committee finds that a Hawaiian sense of place reflects the cultural, spiritual, environmental, and community relationships that connect people to Hawaii. Your Committee further finds that incorporating these principles in the planning, management, and development of land will help guide the State in a manner that respects cultural values, community input, and environmental stewardship.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Replacing mythological importance with traditional cultural importance to better align with terminology used in existing law; 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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2473, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2473, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair