STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3540

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 22

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 22 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RESTORATION OF AHUʻENA HEIAU AND AFFIRMING ITS UNPARALLELED ROLE IN THE SPIRITUAL, POLITICAL, AND CULTURAL HISTORY OF THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to recognize the fiftieth anniversary of the restoration of Ahuʻena Heiau and affirm its unparalleled role in the spiritual, political, and cultural history of the State.

Your Committee did not receive any testimony on this measure.

Your Committee finds that many milestones in Hawaiian history involved Ahuʻena Heiau since its first significant role as a religious and political center during the reign of Kamehameha the Great, including being the site where Kamehameha the Great died, the traditional kapu system was abolished, and the first Christian missionaries from New England arrived in 1820. One hundred fifty‑five years later, the Bishop Museum, archaeologists, and the local community collaborated on the restoration of Ahuʻena Heiau, completing the extraordinary project in 1977 and preserving this national landmark for future generations. This measure would commemorate this achievement in time for its fiftieth anniversary and honor the history, culture, and legacy of Ahuʻena Heiau.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 22, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 22, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts,

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CHRIS LEE, Chair