Senate Standing Committee on Hawaiian Affairs

Aloha everyone. This is the Committee on Hawaiian Affairs. We are gavelling in on the 1pm agenda here in Conference Room 224 April 1st. This meeting is being streamed on live or being streamed live on YouTube.

In the unlikely event that we are interrupted, we will try to reconvene before the end of the time style which is 2:30 and finish our business. Testifiers, please keep it limited to 2 minute timeline. We have other people testify so I ask you to respect that. If there are any temporary technical glitches during your time testifying.

If you're on Zoom, we will probably move on and try and come back to take care of that unless you finish testifying. Like to remind everyone we do have your written testimony so you can stand on your testimony if you would like.

And you can also go to the Legislature's website and review the testimony just by clicking on the link. So with that we have five measures on this 1:00 agenda. GM 674. Kawaipuna Kalipi this is a nomination to the Island Burial Council for Island of Molokai. First testifier we have is Lena Alalei.

Good afternoon Chair Richards. Vice Chair San Buenaventura, Members of the Committee. This was OHA's nominee that was vetted through our internal selection process. We went through public nomination Kahea that the community submitted applications, applicants were selected or candidates were selected for nomination based on their qualifications and involvement in the community and knowledge of Malama Iwi practices.

Our nominees were then approved by our board of Trustees and submitted to the Governor for your approval. So we stand on our written testimony and strong support of this nominee. Mahalo.

Thank you. I don't have any other signed up for oral testimony. We have Ms. Kalepi on Zoom. Is there anybody else in the room would like to testify?

Aloha Chair Richards. Vice Chair San Buenaventura. Good to see you as well. Honorable Committee Members, Mahalo for this opportunity to testify on GM674 and strong support of Kawaipuna Kalipi to serve on the Moloka'i Island Burial Council. I flew here from Molokai because this is important to my community.

I'm Maui County Councilmember Keani Rollins Fernandez, Kupa Aina of Moloka'i, advocate for our community Members past, present and future. Caring for Iwi and burial sites is heavy Kuleana. The weight of which is understood by most people.

Which is why not just anyone is able or willing to do this important and potentially risky work. Protocol to properly care for Iwi and to protect oneself and their family. From handling of Iwi is necessary. So I Mahalo Puna for her willingness to Awamu Kuleana.

As you know, the Island Burial Councils emerge as a result of the Heva done to those in our Lahui that were laid to rest but whose remains were brutally violently disturbed and removed from their resting place.

The process of having Iwi Kupuna protections have since been hollowed out by making the burial councils defunct by not filling them with at least bare quorum of membership. When Governor Green transmitted these nominations, we celebrated our Burial Council would finally have quorum to officially meet. It's appalling that petty politics of personalities have prevented our council from achieving quorum.

Our Senator, Lindy Coit, was not there for our Moloka'i Kupa Aina La'Aka Poipoi and Kilmailani Hanape Hirata. The first two names on this agenda that were stricken. Two individuals who continue to do this work regardless of title.

However, without quorum, Shipti will not be able to take actions that legally require consulting with our Burial Council. This is a disservice to Moloka'i and is detrimental to our ancestors.

Please wrap up.

As the Senate Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, I am looking to you after Sineadai to address this with the Administration for all island burial Councils. Especially since ensuring burial our burial council had forum to operate doesn't seem to be a priority for our own Senator Lindy Coit, for the entirety of Council Member, please. Mahalo, Chair.

Thank you. Is there anybody else who would like to testify? I saw you first.

Good afternoon, Chair, Vice Chairs, Members of the Committee. My name is Jessica Puff. I'm the administrator of SHPD. Apologies. I think that our testimony may not have been submitted in advance, but I would like to read a little bit of our testimony that we we attempted or I thought we had submitted.

Ms. Kelly P's qualifications make her a strong candidate for the Moloka'i Island Burial Council with a demonstrated commitment to Hawaiian culture, community service and environmental stewardship. Currently pursuing a PhD in Political Science at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Kauai Puna's focus on Hawaiian studies and Malama Ina with hands on experience in both cultural and environmental work makes her an excellent candidate for the protection of Evie Kupuna and we strongly and happily support her nomination.

Thank you.

Aloha Ainakakou. My name is Kilmailani Hanape Hirata. I come from the island of Moloka'i. I come from a long line of warriors and an island that really alohas me. I very kaumaha to hear the politics that played in my nomination and what went down. Please stick to the agenda.

You're here to speak on the nominee?

Yeah. She's from Moloka'i. Yes. So I am testifying in strong support and I stand by my written testimony for Kawaipuna Kalipi.

And I wanted to share that the protection of our Iwi kupuna and burial sites is a sacred Kuleana that must be upheld with the highest level of cultural care, local oversight and community authority for remote islands like Molokai', Lana'i, and others with limited stay state agency presence.

The absence of an active burial council leaves our most sacred sites vulnerable to desecration and irreversible harm. Our Kupuna and their final resting places deserve better. Mahalo for allowing me to testify.

Thank you for your testimony. Is there anybody else in the room?

Completely. I was a former Council Member and I support anybody representative of the island Burial some hard jobs. But I'm here to testify on what I believe was the resolution that says they wanted to transfer from the...

Oh, no, hang on. That's coming up.

That coming up. Okay, so this is on Manala. No, no, no, no. This is supporting the burial councils.

Yeah. This is strictly on nominations for the burial council

So I'll support the nomination of these Burial Council Members. That will come up on the next.

Yeah, okay. All right. Is there anybody else? Is anybody on Zoom IT besides our nominee?

Nobody else on Zoom Chair.

Okay, thank you. All right, we have Ms. Kalipi. Go ahead and introduce yourself to the Committee, and then we'll go from there.

Aloha, chair and Committee Members. My name is Kawaipuna Kalipi, and I'm really deeply honored to be considered for this position for the Moloka'i Burial Council. Mahalanui for this opportunity to serve my island and community. Many sayings speak to the relationship of Kanaka to Hawaii, some that reflect the connection that Kanaka have to land.

Sayings like oneehanau, sands of my birth, Kupa Aina sprout of this land, and Kamaina, child of this land, illustrate this deep bond. Other sayings emphasize genealogy as a connection, like kupa au sprout that is fed through generations. Kulaibi, source of my bones, and oibi to the bone.

I was born and raised on Moloka'i, and the bones of my Kupuna la'i to rest there as well. It's both a responsibility and an honor to come from this land and to uphold the Kulana passed down from our ancestors. Serving on the island burial council is Kuleana I take seriously.

It requires thoughtful advocacy, cultural sensitivity, and steadfast dedication to ensuring the proper treatment and protection of ancestral remains. My education and professional experience have prepared me to lean into this responsibility, and I remain committed to upholding our shared duty to Malama Iwi Kupuna.

However, given the lack of quorum, I have to now, at the very least reconsider this position.

It's not a decision I'm taking lightly, but I do not wish to waste a term on the Burial Council when there is no quorum to allow us to fill our Kuleana effectively. From what has been shared in this hearing on the news and across social media.

I'm Kamaha because Moloka'i and our community deserve so much more than whatever is preventing us from moving forward with this. Our Iwi Kupuna deserve a fully functioning council that can advocate for them with the strength and unity they deserve. If a state Committee position such as this one is left unfulfilled, responsibility typically lands on the Governor.

In some case,. the Senate also shares responsibility if they delay or reject appointments without cause. The LNR and SHIPD also bear administrative responsibility in ensuring vacancies are reported and addressed. Between these four state entities, this position has remained unfulfilled for an unacceptable number of years. I'm sorry Chair and Committee, but this is not just an administrative oversight.

When critical state board or council position remain vacant, it can lead to serious legal consequences, particularly if the lack of appointments result in a failure to carry out mandated duties. Several legal risks include failure to comply with state and federal law, denial of due process, negligence and mismanagement. These vacancies don't just impact Moloka'i.

This patterned failure harms the legitimacy of this state, leaving our Iwi kupuna vulnerable and disregarded, disregarding the trust placed in this government to protect them. This issue has the potential to be escalated to a high risk lawsuit for the State because of its many delays in filling these vacancies over the years.

Mahalanui, to us who supported my nomination, especially to OHA and to you, Chair for now. However, I respectfully. I respectfully request to put my nomination on hold until a time that there are enough Committee Members to achieve quorum.

My commitment to protecting and honoring our Iwikupuna remains unwavering and I will continue to support efforts to strengthen the Molokai Burial Council so that it may serve Moloka'i to its full potential. More importantly, I'll be on Moloka'i with the many Ka'i Iwi like Keani and Keo and La'a continuing to protect our Iwi Kupuna.

I hope this body of government will join us soon. Mahalo Chair and Committee.

Ms. Kolipi, or Ms. Kalipi, would you like to finish the interview with the Committee and us vote for your advice and consent, or are you withdrawing from this?

Is it... Is there a possibility to hold my nomination until there is enough nominees for quorum?

We are going to run out of time. Yeah, please.

Aloha. Thank you for stepping forward to serve in this position.

I guess the question I have just to clarify is that the way the advice and consent rules work in the Senate, because you have been nominated, if you are not confirmed by the Senate before the end of this legislative session, you are deemed rejected and will no longer be eligible to serve in the role.

If your nomination is withdrawn by the Governor, then he can potentially... Although it would need to be in an interim appointment because the deadline has passed for this legislative session, if you are withdrawn, you can potentially later be appointed.

So because this is Q and A, the question is whether you were aware of that because of the nature of the situation and I do understand where you're coming from and the feelings that you have about this. They're coming through the screen for sure.

It's just the Committee is in the awkward position of, if we hold your nomination and do not take a vote on you, we reject you permanently.

Do you understand that?

I. I understand. And I hear the dice roll that is being presented before me that there is a prospective chance that the Moloka'i Burial Council may reach quorum this year, if the Governor decides to appoint nominees Keo Mailani, Hana Pirata, or nominee Lakea Poipoi or other nominees that the Governor deems acceptable right now.

Am I understanding that correctly?

Right. And just to clarify the way the calendar of this legislative session works, the deadline has passed for the Governor to submit nominations to any boards and commissions for the remainder of this legislative session. He can continue to appoint Members to boards or commissions like the burial council for the rest of the year.

They will be considered interim Members and will come up for confirmation in the 2026 legislative session. But because you were appointed before the deadline, we need to either take action on your nomination or your action will be deemed rejected.

Thank you, Senator. I'm pulling my nomination from this Committee.

So what's the rules? Stand by while we work out.

You want to do a recess or. You want to go through everything?

Hang on, Ms. Kalipi. We're going to recess so we can make sure we get the rules right.

Hi, this is Committee on Hawaiian Affairs back in session. Ms. Khalifi, ordinarily what we do is we go through our agenda, then we come back for decision making. Given what you have stated, what I'm going to be doing with your nomination is we're in deferred decision making until later.

My office will communicate with you as far as the parameters. The concern is if we don't take action on your nomination, you will automatically be disqualified and will not be able to be appointed interim. If the nomination is withdrawn, that's a different story. But you're already before me, so we're already in process at this point.

Do you understand this so far? And what we don't want to do is trigger a problem for you going forward. We want to make sure we handle this appropriately. Is this making sense for you?

It is. Thank you, Senator. I really appreciate the clarity that this Committee is seeking around this process.

Okay, so with that, what I'm going to do is defer decision making until April 10th at 1pm and in the interim, we will work on getting this straight so we can give you accurate information.

Thank you, Senator. I appreciate each and every one of you.

Okay, thank you. Okay, moving on to Governor's message 676, Dane Maxwell being appointed to Burial Council for Maui and lanai. We have one testifier. Ms. Rada, do you want to testify in person?

Aloha ʻāina kākou. My name is Keomailani Hanapi Hirata, and I testified written testimony in strong support of Dane Maxwell. And I stand by my testimony. And I want to just share something briefly. The work of burial councils in Hawaii sets an example for global indigenous sovereignty movements. When we protect our ancestors, we affirm that our culture.

Culture is not a relic of the past. They are living, sacred and nonnegotiable. Burial counselors are not just adversary bodies. They are the first and last line of defense for our ancestors. Their role is critical. In a world where indigenous sacred sites are constantly threatened by urbanization, exploitation, and indifference.

Supporting these councils means upholding the most fundamental principle. Our ancestors deserve to rest in peace. And our descendants deserve to know their heritage remains intact. Without indigenous oversight, burial sites are often destroyed, disrespected, or commodified in the name of progress. I believe Dane Maxwell gonna hold the front line and the back line for our iwi kūpuna. Mahalo.

Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. Is there anybody else in the room would like to testify?

Aloha again. Chair Richards, Vice Chair Buenaventura, honorable committee members, I'm Keani Rawlins Fernandez, Council Member for Maui County. I testify in strong support of Dane Maxwell, GM 676. Maui needs a subject solid quorum to meet, especially after the 2023 fires.

For example, the SHPD website shows that in the last eight years, our Molokai Burial Council has only been able to meet three times. Eight years. Three times. Please don't let this happen to Maui. Mahalo for taking up all these nominations.

Thank you.

Hello and apologies again, Chair, Vice Chair, members of the committee. I'm thinking we had some technical difficulties with submitting our testimony. Oh, yes. I'm Jessica Puff, the Administrator of the State Historic Preservation Division. I wanted to read to you some of our testimony in support of Dane Maxwell's nomination.

He's a dedicated cultural specialist and lifelong advocate for the protection of iwi kupuna. He was actively exposed to cultural stewardship and taking care of ivy at a young age through the work of his ohana. He is a fluent speaker of Olelo, Hawaii and a lifelong hula practitioner.

Mr. Maxwell was also ordained as a kahu in 2011, furthering his spiritual and cultural descendancy. His experiences in historic preservation include contributions to cultural impact statements, burial treatment plans and other mitigation efforts from many often-high profile projects on Maui.

And Mr. Maxwell has also served previously, both as Chair and Vice Chair of the Maui Lana'i Island Burial Council. And we happily support his nomination.

Thank you. Any other testifiers?

Aloha. My name is Starr Kealaheleokalani Kalahiki, and I'm here to speak on strong support of [foreign language]. Dane Maxwell. We're both part of team [foreign language].

And our connection and our kulena goes back to even before us that my father was part of a group that his grandfather had started back in the 70s. He is not just an amazing practitioner, but a really special solid [foreign language].

And I didn't even know that this was happening, but when I saw him pop up on the screen, I just needed to lend my voice to this. So mahalo, [foreign language]. And mahalo kupuna for this. And mahalo to you for allowing this moment.

Aloha. Thank you. Okay, anyone else? Seeing none. Mr. Maxwell, would you like to address the committee.

Aloha kakou. Aloha Chair, Vice Chair, committee members. Mahalo for all of your time. I am currently at the elevation of 10, 000ft, so words come to me a little slow right now. But you know, it's [foreign language]. It's hard because I just got the news about certain people's nominations being rescinded.

And it's really hard to find individuals who want to sustain themselves and [foreign language] that is so critical to preserving our identity as Kanaka Maoli. And so, I want to kako everyone who steps into this space.

The Kuleana I'm very familiar with, being that this is something that my papa, Charles Kauluwehi Maxwell, has instilled in my life, along with many of my ohana members. But as a community, it takes all of us, as within all of our different parts, within our, our culture, our society, and our pa'ina to really manage malama and give the best.

You know, we talk about care, but it is aloha that I, myself, and my family receive the most from our iwi kupuna now. So, I'll keep it short. And mahalo, everyone who tested testified in support of my nomination. And mahalo again to you all. Aloha.

Aloha. Thank you. And I'm gonna open up for questions. Committee members, do you have any questions for Mr. Maxwell? Seeing none. All right, Mr. Maxwell, what we're going to do, so go through the agenda, and then we'll call for the votes at the end. So, thank you, and I completely appreciate you're willing to step up.

All right, thank you. Moving on to Governor's message 677. Noelani Paresa. Hang on now. Testimony for what? For Mr. Maxwell.

Yes.

Okay. I will allow this. A little unusual but allow it. I'm going to limit you to one minute. You come before. Come, come. We don't bite. I promise.

Aloha. My name is Princess Lehuanani Kumaewa Kainakaleo Momona. I am from West Side Lahaina.

Sit down with us.

I prefer standing, but I prefer - my name is Princess Lehuanani Kumaewaka Ina Kaleomomona. I am from West Side Lahaina. One of the fire victims. I live here in Oahu. But I want to say I know Dane's father, Charles Maxwell, very well. He was a kupuna for us over in Lahaina. He helped us with a lot of things.

It would be my honor. Did you guys get him on this team? Because you guys will be doing good for Maui. We need young ones like this to speak up the truth that his father left for him. So that's what I want to say. Please and good to see you. Aloha to you. God bless you. [Foreign Language].

Aloha, Board. Thank you for allowing us to speak. As we're well aware, there are.

Identify yourself, please.

My name is Shar Kahumoku. I'm a linear descendant of [Foreign Language] and many of the royal crown. I do come from the House of Moana in more than one way intertwining, making Queen Lilialokalani, a grand aunt therefore the Last Queen. In 1839 and 1840, our kingdom made its own constitution, Kingdom Constitution.

Every HRS statute that stands today is taken from our kingdom. And in our 1860 and Chapter 56, protection of places of sepiculture. Chapter 56 for the protection of places of Sepiculture.

"If any person not having any legal right to do so, shall willfully dig up, disinter, remove or convey away any human body from any burial place, or shall knowingly aid in such disinterment, removal or conveying away every such offender and every person accessory thereto, either before or after the fact, shall be punished by imprisonment and hard labor for not more than two years or by a fine not exceeding $1,000."

1860, page 20. I wanted to bring that out because I also serve Governor Greene, Annie Lopez and Dan Cheng, Head of DLNR to protect the tombstones of the [foreign language] as a linear descendant of many of the grandparents there, first cousins, aunts, and uncles.

So, I ask that you take into consideration that our Kanaka people have the and the authority [foreign language] to take care of our own iwi. Thank you.

Thank you. Okay, we are going to be moving on to Governor's message 677. Noelani Paresa. We have Lena Allah. You have submitted written testimony. Did you want to see something in person? Thank you. I have. Ms. Puff, you wanted to speak? Shifty.

Good afternoon again, Chair. Vice Chair. Members of the Committee. I'm Jessica Puff, the administrator of SHPD. We have some testimony that I'll read into the record, but. Noelani Paresa is a Kamaina of Maui. A dedicated and steadfast advocate for the protection of IWI kupuna. She embodies the values of Kuleana, Aloha and Malama Ina. Ms.

Paresa is involved in the restoration of native ecosystems, community driven traditional stewardship, land and water rights and policy advocacy for Native Hawaiians. She holds the knowledge and experience necessary to navigate the complexities of cultural preservation while ensuring that the voices of our Kaputa community are heard. We strongly and happily support her nomination. Thank you.

Thank you. That's all I have for testimony in person. If somebody else would like to testify on behalf of Ms. Paresa. Seeing none. Moving on. Governor's message. Oh, I'm sorry. Thank you, Vice Chair. Excuse me. Ms. Paresa. Go ahead, Introduce Yourself to the Committee and we'll open up for questions.

Aloha, Chair, Vice Chair, Committee Members and all those present in the room and on zoom. Mahalo for your time today. I am humbled and honored to be considered for this opportunity to serve my community. This Kuleana is great, and I do not take it lightly. I resolve to do my best work to Malawana IU Kupuna.

In the words of our kupuna, Mai kolua kupuna, our connection to our Kupuna Aina and each other lives in the bones. Mahalo.

Thank you very much. And I'll open up for questions to the Committee. Committee, any questions for our candidate? Okay, thank you very much. We'll be taking up the voting at the end. Moving on to Governor's message 678. Caroline Hartman, I have OHA stand on your testimony and then I have Dylan R. Shipe.

Good afternoon again, Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee, I'm Jessica Puff, the administrator of SHPD. Caroline Hartman is a native of East Maui and has a long lineage connecting back to East Maui families with genealogical ties to that Ina. Ms.

Hartman carries the Kuleana to her kupuna with a sense of respect, service and aloha, which reflects in her dedication to both cultural preservation and community well being. She has demonstrated this commitment in the past through active protection and stewardship of Evie Kupuna. Ms.

Hartman was raised to carry on her family heritage of traditional healing, which she inherited from her mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Her experiences demonstrate a strong background, willingness to serve her community and appropriate cultural grounding needed to navigate the sensitive issues of burial council responsibilities. We strongly and happily support her nomination. Thank you.

Thank you. Is there anyone else? All right, moving on. Oh, excuse me, Ms. Hartman. Are we here? Do we have it on zoom?

Not on zoom. Chair.

Okay. Thank you. Moving on to our final candidate. Governor's message 679 Bennadette Duman testifiers. We have OHA standing on your testimony. DNR back up again.

Last time. I think again. Good afternoon, Chair, Vice Chairs, Members of the Committee, I'm Jessica Puff, the administrator of SHPD. Bennadette Duman is a native of Lahaina, where she's raised assisting her grandmother in caring for an IWI Caputa at Waene a cemetery, and gained generational knowledge of cultural practice, protocol, and respect for IWI. Ms.

Duman currently serves as a liaison at Haleakala national park, where her role has given her valuable experience with cultural resource management and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation act, which is the federal historic preservation Law. She provides training to staff Members, volunteers and partners on Hawaiian culture, language and history. Ms.

Duman's experiences combine cultural knowledge, awareness and legal frameworks and highlights her dedication to ensuring that appropriate cultural practices are upheld in the management of historic sites and the protection of IWI kupuna. We strongly and happily support her nomination. Thank you.

Thank you. Also have Ms. Hirata. She must have left. Is there anybody else in the room would like to testify?

Belena. My name is Nan Kubatbut. I was for 30 years employed by the Hawaii Pacific Parks Association which is a non-profit partner of Haleakala National Park. It is here that I met Bennadette Duman. Starting as an interpreter in the Park Service, she has worked her way up to her present position.

This happened because of her dedication to the Hawaiian culture and a strong desire to care for the environment that supports this culture. Her desire to practice and her application of the stewardship for our environment makes her a solid candidate for the position on the Burial Council.

In her current work assignment, she regularly engages with diverse groups, sharing with and helping these groups understand the multifaceted information to help them be respectful of the cultures and the places that are Wahipana. She is eager to use her energy and her experience on the Island Burial Council to help protect and honor our.

Thank you. Anyone else?

Aloha. My name is Mrs. Lehuanani Kuma. Eva Ka Ina Kale Momona. I am the blood auntie. We know her as Honey Girl. Hard for me call her English name because I always call her Honey Girl. Born and raised 547. Why not history. Lahaina. My mama, my uncle, my grandma was the ones that raised Kopua Lani World too.

When I was a little girl. We got 11 of us. I'm the ninth youngest. My mama went Hanai Honey Girl. She was raised on the sacred land of Waine and Wai Okama Ahupua. Going up to Kaula Valley. I grant Lahainaluna class of 80 proud. I'm also one of the burnt victims. With family cousins burnt.

We had our houses, churches, schools. Everything around us burnt Except Queen Kapuelani's rotu. That was the only one that survived in that whole entire area. 547 White street is where we was born and raised. Thank you so much again. Besides Maxwell, you guys going to be doing good to Maui. You guys will make Maui great again.

Thank you so much. Thank you my Honey Girl, for taking this stand. You know grandma is here. Grandma Kahili.

This is my Sister. 11 of us. All right. Aloha Chair. And Khalil. This is my first time. But I come here with much gratitude and humbleness. I come here to support my niece.

Please identify yourself.

I am Nettie Aquino. I am on Maui, one of the main community organizers from the fire disaster. I have a non-profit called Nakia IO Maui. And I am the Executive Director and founder. I now serve the people of Lahaina. So I come here today about my niece, Bennadette Duman.

I'm not used to calling her by her whole name, but I come here about her qualifications. She has a capacity. She has a commitment. She has a conviction. She was a kiai on Mauna Haleakala. If you can protect a sacred place, you can protect the Evie, you can protect the aina.

And what also makes her qualify is that she's a Konohiki. If you know what a Konohiki is, that's a caretaker for a royal place. From the time we were young all the way till she's older even till now.

In Lahaina, at 535 Waianae Street, Biola Congregational Church, we are the descendants of Queen Kopulani and we are the Konohikis. If anyone qualifies to take care our future, our present and our past, this would be the people that serves then and now.

And so I come here asking for your support to let Maui not just rise again, but to let Maui rise again as a lahui. Let the community know that Maui is going to rise in every way that we can. So thank you. Mahalo for hearing me. Aloha.

Aloha. Thank you. Is there anybody else?

Aloha again. Senator Richards. Chair Richards. Vice Chair, San Buenaventura. Honorable Committee Members, again, I am Maui Kani. Council Member Keani Rawlins-Fernandez. Mahalo for the opportunity to testify on GM 679 in support of Bennadette Honey Girl Duman to serve on the Maui Lanai Island Burial Council.

Although I just met her today, I received strong recommendations from those I trust who have cultural expertise. And I'm grateful for her willingness to awa Mokuleana. As stated earlier, after the fires in Lahaina, the seat reserved for the for Lahaina cannot remain vacant as more and more ev are found.

We need the Burial Council to have quorum to take action as earlier testifiers before me. Shared confirming or advising and consenting to the Maui nominations is doing good for Maui. So mahalo for your work today.

Thank you, Council Member. Okay, last call. Anybody else seen? None. All right. Ms. Duman. I guess we're supposed to call you Honey Girl.

Bennadette Honey Girl Duman. When we had talked Senator Richards, I was thinking to myself, Oh, I forgot to tell you, like, nobody knows me benedet. I do go by Honey Girl. So yeah, so.

Introduce yourself to the Committee. And this is a talk story. Really easy.

I can handle talk story sessions. So I go by Honey Girl. I am from Maui, as my aunties had shared. You know, growing up in Lahaina was something that always treasure. And just thinking about my grandma and how she would be with the water hose and she'd be like cleaning the tomb.

And of course Lahaina is very hot. And so that's one of the ways you would cool down is by grandma shooting us with the hose. So they were cleaning, my aunties were cleaning and I was playing.

But an auntie shared with me that I never really thought about it, how by being in the tomb and being with my grandma and being around the area, I think what my grandma was doing was instilling in me, like, oh, you don't have to be afraid of being in a graveyard area.

And I think after an auntie told me that, I clicked, you know, like, wow, this is awesome. I never even thought about it. I think my desire to apply and to serve on the board is I've always wanted to serve my people. I've always wanted to give back to my Aina.

And I feel like this is one way for me to do it. I think by being here today, I see the challenges and I see how hard it's going to be. But I know that I have the strength and the support of people who love me and who see me grown as a person.

I'm as a local girl as you can possibly be. And I tell you what, working in the Federal Government was such a growing and learning experience. To grow personally and professionally to be in this particular space and time right now. I never thought I would be able to serve my people and my Aina in this way.

Never crossed my mind that I would ever even be interested in. In applying for the burial council. But I love my Aina. I love my people. And I really feel like this is a way that I can do it. And just so I. So just so I.

You know, I did check with the Doi ethics office and I am cleared to actually serve on this council, providing that. You know, I've been reminded that what I do here is totally separate from work. But I know I can harness everything that I learned from work to be able to serve in this capacity.

So, yeah, I think that's what I want to say. So if you guys get any questions. Yes, please.

That was an excellent one. You did terrific. Okay, so now I'm going to open it up to the Committee for any questions for you. Okay.

Just a comment. You know, my tutu told me the same thing. She said, you know, be scared of the dead, be scared of the living. And so I just really wanted to comment and mahalo you for having the courage to step up.

You know, we're up against more than just what we see in the natural, but as we know, it's spiritual, too. And it sounds like you're very rooted in that way and seems like you have a lot of support, both naturally and spiritually.

So I wanted to really just thank you for having the courage, for stepping up and thank you for taking on the Kuleana to help our Lahui. And I just wanted to share my mahalo's to you and your ohana and everybody here that is here to support you and even those back home. So mahalo. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Senator. Any other questions from the Committee Members? Okay, we're going to go recess real quick to talk story. Make sure we get this line, then we'll go into decision making. So standby sa.

We are back in session for decision making. Vice Chair, are you ready for the votes here? On the first measure of Governor's message 674 with Ms. Calipe we are going to defer that as I stated previously to April 10th at 1:00 p.m. Moving on to Governor's Message 676 for Dane Maxwell.

This recommendation of the Chair to advise and consent. Any conversation, Any questions? Hearing none. Okay, a little housekeeping. Sorry. On the deferred decision making for Governor's message 674, it's April 10th at 1:00 p.m. in this room. 224. Okay, so moving on. For the vote on Dane Maxwell, it's advice of the Chair.

Recommendation of the Chair to advise and consent. Vice Chair for the vote.

Okay, voting on 676. Jim. 676. Chair's recommendation is the advice and consent. [Roll Call] Chair recommendation is unanimously adopted.

Thank you Vice Chair. Moving on to our Next Governor's message 677 For Ms. Parisa it is the recommendation of a Chair to advise and consent.

Vice Chair for the vote voting on GM677. Chair's recommendations advise and consent. Are there any noes? Are there any reservations? Seeing none. Another unanimous consent. Chair your recommendation has been adopted.

Thank you Vice Chair. Moving on to Governor's message 678. Ms. Hartman wasn't here but we're going to go ahead. She did go through the application process and we had a good interview. So with that it's recommendation of the Chair to advise and consent.

Voting on GM678. Chair's recommendation is to advise and consent knowing seeing all Members being present. Are there any reservations? Are there any noes? Seeing none. Another unanimous adoption. Your recommendation has been adopted. Thank you very much.

Thank you Vice Chair. And the final measure on the Agenda, GM679. Honey Girl Dooman. We're gonna change your name. Okay. It's a recommendation of the Chair to advise and consent voting on GM679.

Noting all Members being present. Are there any reservations? Are there any noes? Another unanimous adoption. Chair your recommendation has been adopted. Thank you.

We are at the end of the agenda. We are adjourned.

Hello everyone. This is Committee on Hawaiian Affairs. We are gambling in on the 110 agenda 4-1-2025. We have six measures on the agenda resolutions and we will start off with with SCR92SR75. We'll be taking them at the same time. OHA.

Good afternoon Chair Richards Vice Chair, San Buenaventur, Members of the Committee, Lena Alalei on behalf of OHA, OHA agrees with the basic Proposition of this resolution that legislative involvement is really important and helping to educate our Lahui about how to best be able to engage in the process is important and it's a priority that we've had for some time.

I put in our testimony just, you know, some of the things that we've done. Most recently over the past year, we regularly have forums on specific topics. During Mary Monarch, we helped host a Merrill forum on Hawaii island this past July.

We regularly communicate with beneficiaries at in person meetings, will attend community meetings, Association meetings, different beneficial Native Hawaiian organization meetings, and share our legislative priorities and try to understand from the community what their priorities are. The level of our presence and visibility in the community has definitely fluctuated over the years.

OHA is under new Administration and this is definitely a priority. Moving forward is being more visible in the community, meeting many of the goals that are set forth in this residency.

So we believe that, you know, we share all of these, all of the purposes of and goals of the resolution and would be happy to provide a report back to the Senate to see next year.

Kind of get a more in depth overview than what I was able to provide you in the testimony today about the scope of our involvement in the community.

We are planning, I can say, to host island specific for meetings in person before next legislative session to talk more about our legislative priorities, hear back more from the community and do you know some of this training that you're talking about? Because it's long, the session is long. So it's.

I agree if, you know, the bills go through all the hearings, people might if they don't understand the process. It can be confusing where we are and we definitely want to help clear that up.

The one ask would be that we are not asked at this point to create an advisory group because this is something we're trying to prioritize and look at internally and, you know, managing an advisory group in a serious way where you really gather input and meet regularly and take it, you know, take their advice seriously.

It's a large time commitment. So we would ask that you can look at the report that we provide next year and go forward from there on your assessment of what we're doing. But we absolutely share the goals and priorities set forth in this resolution.

Okay, thank you. That's all I have signed up to testify. Is there anybody wants to testify on this matter? Seeing none. Moving on to the next agenda item SCR160. I have one in Zoom and one in person. I have Hokule Lindsay not available on zoom Chair. No in the room. Must have Zoomed in.

Good afternoon, Chair, Members of the Committee. Hokule Lindsay, Deputy Attorney General. The Department of the Attorney General respectfully opposes this resolution. It makes two requests of the Attorney General and both requests are premature at this time.

First, with regard to the request for the Attorney General to assess whether there has been a breach of General Lease 231 between the Department of Hawaiian Homelands and the National Park Service. There is no indication in the resolution itself that there has been a breach of the lease.

And if the Department of Hawaiian Homelands were to have concerns that there were a breach, that there was a breach of the lease, then we would provide our legal advice to the Department through the normal course of our legal representation.

Secondly, with regard to whether the lease should be amended or rescinded because of the anticipated transfer of Colorado county to Maui County, without more details in place, it's not possible for us to determine if there will be an impact on the lease at all. So with that, I thank you for this opportunity and I'm available for questions.

Okay. Thank you. OHA. Excuse me. No, it was DHHL. Do you have anybody from DHHL there? We are.

Aloha Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee, Oriana Leo of the Department of Hawaiian Homelands. The Department stands on its written testimony with no position, as Hokule mentioned, from the AG's office. We have no reason to believe that there has been any violation of compliance with GL231.

We recognize the federal administrative orders upon NPS and we continue to communicate and engage with NPS despite those orders. If you have any questions, I'm available. Mahalo.

Thank you. Is there anybody else wants to testify on this matter? Seeing none. Moving on to our third measure, SCR 161 and SR 130. And we have OHA in person.

Mahalo. Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee. This resolution was introduced at OHA's request. It was a resolution that we worked on with Shipti and Members of the community in advance before asking it to be introduced.

There has been a number of times over the years when people have inquired about OHA's willingness to to manage portions of the burial sites program, more specifically the Island Burial Councils, so helping to support and train and notice the public meetings and that aspect of the program.

But what this resolution sets forth is a working group since it would take the time and resources to actually convene A large number of community and agency representatives. The goal is actually to look more comprehensive at what portions of the burial sites program might be.

It might be in the best interest of the Native Hawaiian community to transfer to OHA and to look closely at the rules, the statute, as well as the operationalization and implementation of the program, and to consider whether this is a good thing. And the proposed Members of the working group. We do have a slight amendment.

We did work with the community and Shipti in advance, but originally the Bill as written had two representatives from Oha, two from Shipti, one from each of the five island burial councils, and then just one from a named community group.

But we think in the interest of opening up membership more broadly, so it really is an inclusive working group that people have trust in that it would be beneficial to allow, you know, community Members to submit their names and for the working group to select up to 5 additional community Members to sit on the working group.

So it actually be quite large. It would be five from the IBC, up to five from the community, that's 10, and then two from each of the agencies. So that's a 14 person working group. But again, the goal is to really make this as inclusive as possible.

What came out of the burial sites working group report, which was published in 2023, is there are a lot of community concerns about how the program is currently run and what could be done to improve it.

So this is really, again, to make this process as transparent and open as possible so that when the Members of the working group, the final report would be to recommend statutory or regulatory amendments. People in the community already know where these are coming from and why they've been put forth and even had the opportunity to participate.

And these would also be, you know, some of these would be publicly noticed meetings as well, so that people could provide testimony in that way. So I'm happy to answer any questions that you might have.

Okay, thank you. We have another in person, Mr. Edward Ayal. If I'm saying that correct, I do not see anybody here.

I make sure talking about the right thing. The native Hawaiian barrel sights. Good. Sit down. Okay. And identify yourself, please. My name is Program as a PUNE representative and for the collaboration of others getting together and finding how we can best serve each other.

I think if we are working together, then we have enforcement, we have the OHA with less resources.

On the terms that I serve at the Hawaii Island Burial Council, we were so strapped with resources that when we had our minutes, we had our own council person physically write the minutes down because we couldn't even have them working with. And when we first started, we had to get people flying in from Oahu.

We never even have our own person on our own island that was designated for us. So I think if we're working together, then we can share the resources, especially now with the way globally and what's happening. And I think that I really appreciate you guys looking into passing this so we can collaborate together.

Thank you very much. Is there anybody else who would like to testify on this? That's all I have signed up, seeing none. Moving on to our fourth, our fourth measure. SCR 167 SR 136. We have OHA again.

Mahalo, Chair, Vice Chairs, Members of the Committee, I can stand on our written testimony that we're happy to submit the report that we are already approved by our board to prepare. It'll be a phase two to due diligence report.

And I put in our written testimony some of the components that would be included, which includes our staffing budget, the resources we have, a community outreach plan, a cultural stewardship plan. So it would have already many of the components I think that the Committee would want to know that are in place.

And that's part of the due diligence process we do for any legacy land or commercial lands that we acquire. So this is of part, part of our standard operating procedure. And the board approved us to move forward on that by. In February.

So we expect this to be done about the end of the summer and could be shared at that time.

Okay, thank you. SHH. Excuse me. DRS. Kurt, I guess you're here instead of chair.

Vice Chair Members.

On behalf of Chair Chan. And we stand from our written testimony providing comments.

Thank you, James Milo.

Senators, I am James J. Kalaimamamamamamohu Croninburg Myoho and the lineal Kahul Mauna Awa. And I'll stand on my written testimony and just. I can just gently offer a reminder to all of us of what Mauna Allah is and what it isn't. Mauna Allah at its inception is a family burial plot. It's burial grounds.

And that's codified in federal law that still exists. The intention was for the private burial of the Kamehameha family. This now is expanded to our Kawakaua cousins, which happens to be my family. Outside of being a descendant of Honolulu. It is not and was never intended to be a public ground. It was never public till 1947.

It is not and was never intended to be a state park or State monument. So I would.

I would offer gently to both OHA and the DLNR that any procedures, processes or reports that do not include the guidance and ike of the Ohana that has cared for the iwi kupuna for over 200 years and has very specific and developed ways of doing that particular to these special db Capuna does not produce a fully informed product.

It. It can't be a legitimate product if it does not include this very important cultural component to that. So with that in mind, that and my testimony, that's what I needed to say.

Mahalo. Is there anybody else that wants to testify on SCR167SR136 hearing none. Moving on.

I am a. I am a singer and a resonator and, and Aloha Aina and Kia. I I want to just say in this process of holding space at and for Mauna'a La even before, even before this time my engagement with Mauna Allah has been absolutely life changing.

I'm a co producer of a documentary about Queen Liliuokalani and so my story starts there. But I understand that so many people have such deep connection to that space. So I want to mahalo each and every one of you face to face for your continued effort to kakao the care of Mauna' Ala.

On another note, when you asked about whatever was earlier, I have a personal story. You know, I'm a Kanaka oivi and I really, really want to trust in the office that of. Of the affairs of Hawaiians.

And when I was in the trip with Diggy for Hui Kuomo, when you guys said Hale Aloha Ayal's name earlier, I was just like, zero, that's actually my kumu.

And on that trip OHA made me sign kind of like it was like as a musician, I always thought maybe one day some record producer would make me try and sign away my identity.

But no, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs did that before this last trip and it was really heartbreaking the kind of manipulation of optics that I was used for, I felt. And so here I am again, holding space for something so sacred, really wanting to trust in the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to be do what's best for Hawaiians.

So I just want to say with my voice, mahalo for your effort in supporting that truth that oh, Mahalo.

Mahalo. Is there anyone else seeing not moving on to our fifth group, SCR 168 and SR 137 Requesting Department of Hawaiian Homes to develop and implement water access pilot project. First up in person we have dhhl.

Aloha Hou. Oriana Leaw of dhhl. The Department stands on its written testimony in support of this measure. The objective of this measure is in alignment with our Kawaii High Regional Plan as well as our Kawai High Water assessment. And I'm available for questions. Mahalo.

Thank you. That is all I have in person. If anybody else wants to testify, see not moving to our final S.

Chair 168.

zero, if you have a question. Sure. It's for DHHL. DHHL, come back up.

Thank you. Quick question, DHHL. Thank you. With this particular result, will this be a wind turbine facility and that you're. Aware of.

Given the current language of the Bill, I understand that it is meant to provide hydroelectric power which may or may not include tur. However, preliminary stages would still have to be completed in order for us to determine that.

And then is a part of those preliminary stages beneficiary consultations? zero, yes.

I failed to mention that in my verbal testimony. But in my written testimony it notes that beneficiary consultation is absolutely necessary and a requirement of the Department before proceeding with any pilot project. Great. Thank you so much. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you. Any other questions? Okay. Moving on to our final measure, SR38. We have no testimony, written testimony. Does anybody want to testify in person on this subject matter? Seeing none, we're going to go into recess and then we'll come back for decision making.

Hello, everyone.

This is coming back in. Reconvening on the 1:10pm agenda for Committee on Hawaiian affairs for decision making on the first measures SCR 92 and SR 75. It is the recommendation of the chair to request that OHA provide an annual report to the Legislature concerning the activities.

And I realize this is something that you're doing already, but if we get a report and help broadcast what you're working on, we'd like to do that. So pass with. Pass with. Amending that. We are requesting a annual report. Ohasi okay? That'll work for you. Yes. Thank you. Okay. Thank you.

So, Vice Chair, it is for the vote as recommendation to pass with amendments. Chair votes aye.

Voting on SCR 92. Chair's recommendations passed with amendments. Chair votes. Aye. Vice Chair votes aye. Senator Ihara is excused. Senator Keohokalole, Senator Decorte. Aye. Chair Recommendation has been adopted.

Thank you. Moving on to SCR 160 concerning the question of whether or not a General lease has been materially breached. Listening very carefully. It's the recommendation of the chair to defer. Moving on. On the third collection of measures SCR 161 SR 130.

It is the recommendation of the Chair and this has to do with convening a working group for OHA to examine the burial site management. So this is putting together a working group and Oha. There's going to be some things that we'll work on with you. Coming through. Recommendation of the chair to take the proposed amendments from Oha.

Up to five Members of the community with expertise and experience in protecting Native Hawaiian burial sites including but not limited to recognized lineal and cultural descents who self identify and submit their names for selection by a majority vote of the working group. There will also be some tech amendments that SMA is recommending.

So that is the recommendation of the Chair. Any conversation, comments? Vice Chair for the vote.

Okay. Voting on SCR161 and SR130 noting all Members being present. Are there any no's or reservations? Seeing non chair recommendation has been adopted.

Thank you. Moving on to the fourth group. SCR 167 and 136. What I'm going to do with this. It's recommendation of the chair to defer this measure. You have a report coming through and rather I was going to defer it anyway. But if you could have that report coming through to us.

We don't need the paperwork and and much of what would be involved in that is already in the previous measures SCR 161 and 130. So we don't need more paperwork. So we're going to defer that measure. Moving on to SCR 168. SR 137 requesting DHHL to develop an implanted water access pilot project.

It is the recommendation of the Chair to pass as is.

Okay. Voting on SCR 168 SR 137 noting that all Members are present. Are there any reservations? Are there any no's? Okay. No. For Senator DeCorte Chair recommendation has been adopted.

Thank you. And on our final measure the SR 38 supporting Native Hawaiian Intellectual Property Working group request we received absolutely no support any testifying whatsoever. And so it is the policy of the Chair to defer a measure. So SR 38 is deferred. That's the end of our agenda.

We stand adjourned.