HB 671: RELATING TO NATIVE HAWAIIANS.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO NATIVE HAWAIIANS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 10, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§10-     Native Hawaiian notable districts; designation.  (a)  The office shall identify all legislative districts in the State in which at least twenty-five per cent of the population consists of Native Hawaiians.

     (b)  Any district identified by the office pursuant to subsection (a) shall be designated as a Native Hawaiian notable district for purposes of representation and recognition."

     SECTION 2.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

OHA; Native Hawaiians; Legislative Districts; Recognition

Description:

Requires the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to identify all legislative districts in the State in which at least twenty-five per cent of the population consists of Native Hawaiians.  Designates these districts as Native Hawaiian notable districts.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO NATIVE HAWAIIANS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 201, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§201-     Native Hawaiian majority districts; designation.  (a)  The department shall identify all legislative districts in the State in which a majority of the population consists of Native Hawaiians.

     (b)  Any district identified by the department pursuant to subsection (a) shall be designated as a Native Hawaiian majority district for purposes of representation and recognition."

     SECTION 2.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

DBEDT; Native Hawaiians; Legislative Districts; Recognition

Description:

Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to identify all legislative districts in the State in which a majority of the population consists of Native Hawaiians.  Designates these districts as Native Hawaiian majority districts.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  168

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.B. No. 671

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Economic Development & Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 671 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NATIVE HAWAIIANS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to identify all legislative districts in the State in which a majority of the population consists of Native Hawaiians and designate these districts as Native Hawaiian majority districts.

            Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

            Your Committee finds that if fifty percent is used as the minimum threshold to determine a majority and if the United States Census Bureau's category of "Native Hawaiian Alone" is used as the race category, then none of Hawaii's legislative districts would be classified as a Native Hawaiian majority district as proposed by this measure.  If the United States Census Bureau's category of "Native Hawaiian Alone or in Combination with Other Races" is used, the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism would need to do special tabulations to determine which districts would be designated Native Hawaiian majority districts under this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the agency tasked with identifying the legislative districts from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs;

     (2)  Specifying that the minimum population threshold for these legislative districts to receive the designation shall be twenty-five percent;

     (3)  Specifying that the legislative districts shall be designated as Native Hawaiian Notable Districts;

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

     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 671, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 671, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Technology,