STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1550-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 3247

S.D. 1

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 S.B. No. 3247, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a temporary Royal Mausoleum Working Group within the Department of Land and Natural Resources to determine the stewardship of Mauna ʻAla.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Department of ʻŌiwi Resources, County of Maui; Royal Order of Kamehameha I; Moanalua Gardens Foundation; Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs; ʻAha Hipuʻu; Kamehameha Schools; ʻAhahui Kaʻiulani; and eight individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Daughters and Sons of the Hawaiian Warriors-Māmakakaua and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that Mauna ʻAla is a site of significant historical and cultural importance that should be managed in a culturally appropriate and sensitive manner. Your Committee further finds that long-term stewardship of Mauna ʻAla would benefit from a permanent, culturally grounded governance structure within the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Your Committee concludes that the version of this measure, as originally introduced, is preferable, as it establishes a Royal Mausoleum Commission within the Department of Land and Natural Resources to fulfill that role.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Reverting the contents of this measure as it was introduced, which establishes a Royal Mausoleum Commission within the Department of Land and Natural Resources to develop and implement policy for the preservation, operation, and outreach of Mauna ʻAla;

(2) Amending the membership of the Royal Mausoleum Commission;

(3) Deleting language that would have allowed the Royal Mausoleum Commission to employ an executive director and other staff;

(4) Clarifying that the Legislature may appropriate funds to support the operations of the Royal Mausoleum Commission;

(5) Recognizing the kahu of Mauna ʻAla as the individual responsible for the cultural, traditional, and spiritual care of the iwi kūpuna interred at Mauna ʻAla;

(6) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(7) 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 S.B. No. 3247, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3247, S.D. 1, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair