SCR 92: requesting the office of hawaiian affairs to establish and provide legislative engagement forums to educate and empower the native hawaiian community regarding the legislative process.

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the office of hawaiian affairs to establish and provide legislative engagement forums to educate and empower the native hawaiian community regarding the legislative process.

     WHEREAS, this body finds that the duties of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs include:

     (1)  Advancing the betterment of conditions of Native Hawaiians;

     (2)  Assessing the policies and practices of other agencies impacting Native Hawaiians;

     (3)  Conducting advocacy efforts for Native Hawaiians; and

     (4)  Serving as the principal public agency in the State responsible for the performance, development, and coordination of programs and activities relating to Native Hawaiians; and

     WHEREAS, the legislative process plays a crucial role in shaping policies and laws that directly impact the Native Hawaiian community; and

     WHEREAS, increasing resources and information on the legislative process available to the Native Hawaiian community will increase community engagement; and

     WHEREAS, increasing civic engagement and understanding of the legislative process empowers Native Hawaiians to advocate for their interests effectively; and

     WHEREAS, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs serves as a vital institution dedicated to improving the well-being of Native Hawaiians through advocacy, research, and community support; and

     WHEREAS, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs has the resources and capacity to facilitate educational initiatives that promote greater awareness and participation in the legislative process; and

     WHEREAS, legislative engagement forums will provide valuable opportunities for Native Hawaiians to learn about bill drafting, testimony submission, committee hearings, and other aspects of civic engagement; and

     WHEREAS, legislative engagement forums may be conducted through in-person workshops, virtual seminars, and outreach efforts in various communities across the State; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is requested to establish and provide legislative engagement forums to educate and empower the Native Hawaiian community regarding the legislative process; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is encouraged to collaborate with community organizations, educational institutions, and legislative bodies to ensure the accessibility and effectiveness of these forums; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these legislative engagement forums should include educational materials, workshops, and mentorship opportunities that enable Native Hawaiians to effectively navigate the legislative process; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is urged to provide an annual report to the Legislature summarizing the activities, participation, and impact of these forums, as well as recommendations for further improvement; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is requested to provide an annual report to the Legislature concerning its activities, as it pertains to educational and communal engagement opportunities regarding legislative processes; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is urged to consider establishing an advisory group composed of Native Hawaiian leaders, educators, and policy experts to guide and enhance the effectiveness of these efforts; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Chief Executive Officer of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Report Title: 

Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Legislative Engagement Forums

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the office of hawaiian affairs to establish and provide legislative engagement forums to educate and empower the native hawaiian community regarding the legislative process.

     WHEREAS, this body finds that the duties of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs include:

(1)  Advancing the betterment of conditions of Native Hawaiians;

(2)  Assessing the policies and practices of other agencies impacting Native Hawaiians;

(3)  Conducting advocacy efforts for Native Hawaiians; and

(4)  Serving as the principal public agency in the State responsible for the performance, development, and coordination of programs and activities relating to Native Hawaiians; and

     WHEREAS, the legislative process plays a crucial role in shaping policies and laws that directly impact the Native Hawaiian community; and

     WHEREAS, increasing resources and information on the legislative process available to the Native Hawaiian community will increase community engagement; and

     WHEREAS, increasing civic engagement and understanding of the legislative process empowers Native Hawaiians to advocate for their interests effectively; and

     WHEREAS, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs serves as a vital institution dedicated to improving the well-being of Native Hawaiians through advocacy, research, and community support; and

     WHEREAS, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs has the resources and capacity to facilitate educational initiatives that promote greater awareness and participation in the legislative process; and

     WHEREAS, legislative engagement forums will provide valuable opportunities for Native Hawaiians to learn about bill drafting, testimony submission, committee hearings, and other aspects of civic engagement; and

     WHEREAS, legislative engagement forums may be conducted through in-person workshops, virtual seminars, and outreach efforts in various communities across the State; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is requested to establish and provide legislative engagement forums to educate and empower the Native Hawaiian community regarding the legislative process; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is encouraged to collaborate with community organizations, educational institutions, and legislative bodies to ensure the accessibility and effectiveness of these forums; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these legislative engagement forums should include educational materials, workshops, and mentorship opportunities that enable Native Hawaiians to effectively navigate the legislative process; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is urged to provide an annual report to the Legislature summarizing the activities, participation, and impact of these forums, as well as recommendations for further improvement; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is urged to consider establishing an advisory group composed of Native Hawaiian leaders, educators, and policy experts to guide and enhance the effectiveness of these efforts; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Chief Executive Officer of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Report Title: 

Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Legislative Engagement Forums

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1563

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 92

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 92 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS TO ESTABLISH AND PROVIDE LEGISLATIVE ENGAGEMENT FORUMS TO EDUCATE AND EMPOWER THE NATIVE HAWAIIAN COMMUNITY REGARDING THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to establish and provide legislative engagement forums to educate and empower the Native Hawaiian community regarding the legislative process.

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

     Your Committee finds that indigenous engagement in the local legislative process is extremely important to advancing the self-determination of the Native Hawaiian community.  Accordingly, this measure requests the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to establish and provide educational legislative engagement forums specifically tailored to the Native Hawaiian community to enhance equitable participation in the lawmaking process in the State.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by adding language requesting the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to provide an annual report to the Legislature concerning its activities, as it pertains to educational and communal engagement opportunities regarding legislative processes.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 92, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 92, S.D. 1.

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