Senate Standing Committee on Hawaiian Affairs

Hello everyone. This is the Committee on Hawaiian Affairs. It is on Tuesday, February 17th at 1pm agenda. We are in room 224. In the event that we have to-- unlikely event that we have to cancel or end this hearing, we will reconvene at 1:05 on February 19th again in 224.

For testifiers, we have a two-minute time limit and I would ask that if you are able to stand in your written testimony, please do. So with that, we have only one item on this agenda. It is SB 2635, Senate Draft 1, relating to the Department of Hawaiian Homes, appropriates funds to the Department of Hawaiian Homes, land for development or purchase of lands or units for mortgage or rental subsidies and other services necessary to address the wait list

For our testifiers, we have DHHL.

Aloha Chair, Vice Chair, members of the committee. [Unintelligible] with DHHL.The department stands in strong support of this measure. We are available for questions. Mahalo.

Thank you. We have-- That is all we have to register to testify. But we have five additional testimonies in support.

Mahealani Cypher, Julia Estigoy Kaho'le, Johnnie-Mae Perry, Veronica Moore and Leimomi Khan. Is there anybody else in the room would like to testify? Hearing none. We will recess for a moment.

And we are back in.

Senator Les, can I ask you to take the vote for us, please? It is a recommendation of the Chair to pass SB 2635 Senate Draft 1 with amendments, specifically, we're going to defect the date. And with that, on the measure, Chair votes aye.

We're voting on Senate Bill 2635 to pass with amendments. Chair votes aye. Vice Chair is excused. Senator Ihara votes aye. Senator Keohokalole is excused. Senator DeCorte? The measure is adopted as amended.

Thank you. We're at the end of the agenda. We stand adjourned.

This is the Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, February 17th on the 1:05 agenda. We are meeting here in Room 224. If in the unlikely event that we have to end the hearing, we will reconvene at 1:05 on the 19th again here in 224. Testifiers, you have a two minute time limit.

And with that, we are going to get rolling on first bill on the agenda. Senate Bill 2924, relating to Kanehili Community Hale. Authorized issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriates funds to DHHL for a capital improvement project for the construction of Kanehili Community Hale, a new access road, and parking lot at the Kanehili homestead.

Testifiers. First off, we have DHHL. Thank you. Moving on, we have Randall Akau here in person. Come on up, Randall. Yeah, go ahead. Sit down and then just identify yourself for the record and for people who might be watching.

My name is Randy Akau. I'm the President of the Kānehili Community Association.

Thank you. Go ahead please.

I'm writing in full support of Senate Bill 2924, which requests the funding of $15 million for capital improvement project for the construction of the Kanehili Community Hale, a new access road, and parking.

This long awaited facility represents a critical investment in a cultural vitality, educational advancement, and overall well being of the Kanehili community and its Native Hawaiian beneficiaries. This Kanehili Community Hale is a community driven project conceived and led by homestead beneficiaries to strengthen our community through culture preservation, education, and collective well being.

It will serve as a dedicated space where Hawaii cultural traditions and native language can be practiced, taught, and perpetuated for future generations. This facility will also function as a center for education and community engagement.

Planned spaces include a community computer room, learning resource center, computer literacy programs, youth mentorship, workforce development support, community based programs, and a conference room. These resources will expand access to education opportunities, strengthen economic pathways, and empower our beneficiaries with tools necessary to thrive in today's economy.

Equally important, this hale will promote recreation and community well being by providing a safe and welcoming environment where families can gather, build relationships, and reinforce the social fabric that sustains resilient homestead communities.

This project includes a commercial kitchen, an event hall, and supporting infrastructure, as well as construction of a new access road and parking to ensure a safe and equitable access for our beneficiaries. This project has been thoughtfully planned by Kanehili beneficiaries as a multi phase complex designed to serve current and future generations.

We remain committed to securing additional resources to complete future phases, including park structures and expanded recreational amenities. SB 2924 is directly aligned with the intent and purpose of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, which was established to promote self determination, economic self sufficiency, and the long term stability of Native Hawaiian beneficiaries.

Please wrap up.

This hale represents an investment in ambition by enabling homesteaders to strengthen their cultural foundation, build economic capacity, and sustain their community for generations to come. I respectfully urge this community to pass the Senate Bill 2924 and support this community driven initiative for the Kanehili Community Association. Mahalo.

Thank you. Moving on. I have Shelby Pikachu Billionaire. I see you online there. Go ahead.

Aloha, guys. How are you guys? Beautiful day. I'll make it short and sweet. Because I hope actually write a bill for them. Not a bill. Allows the funds to build a wall to protect the community center you guys are looking at today. So if this investment costs 15 million, I agree with Uncle Randy Akau, whose the Chair with Auntie Jodi Akau.

Because you can do a lot more things there because it's a flat land, but once you build out, you can make your own Hawaiian Culture Center, entertainment center. It's right by DHHL. It's right by the bus, right by the rail that goes to nowhere.

So I do a support this bill 100% and so do the beneficiaries and advocates. But I do have a question because when we wrote the approval and DHHL was there with Kali Watson, we got the 800000 the hospital funds approved, but I didn't see any money come through. So I would like to see that and we'd like to follow up. So thank you very much. You can ask DHHL or the Governor's package the questions. Aloha.

Aloha. Thank you. That is all we have registered to testify. Is there anybody else online, IT?

No one online, Chair.

Okay, thank you. Opening up for questions. Members, any questions for our testifiers? Okay. Seeing none. Just to follow up on that, we have four other testimonies in support. Donna Neitzel, Eric Twiggs, Heidi Akau, and Melinda Healani Sonoda-Pale.

Okay, moving on to Senate Bill 3127, relating to Hawaiian Homes Commission Act 1920. As amended, increases the limit of the state's liability for monies borrowed by the Department of Hawaiian Homelands or loans made to lessees that are guaranteed by the department from $100 million to $500 million. Up first is DHHL for testifying. Thank you. That's all we have registered to testify. Anybody else in the room? Seeing none. IT, do we have anybody online?

I believe we have one person online, Chair.

Okay, please put them forth.

They are currently unavailable, Chair.

Okay, thank you. Seeing no other to testify. Open for questions. Committee Members? Seeing none. Moving on. Senate Bill 3248, establishes labor requirements for ʻōkolehao products. First up to testify, we have DAB Chair Sharon Hurd, but I do not see her, unless she's online. IT, do we have anybody?

No one present, Chair.

Is there anybody else that would like to testify on this measure? Seeing none. Committee Members, we don't have anybody to ask questions on. Seeing none. IT, we're going to go into recess.

Hello, everyone.

We are back in session on the Committee of Hawaiian Affairs for decision-making. On Senate Bill 2924, relating to the Kanehili community Hale. It's the recommendation of the Chair to adopt DHHL amendments to shift General funding structure from General obligation bonds to General funds. Recommendation of the Chair to pass with amendments. Vice Chair, Chair votes aye.

Members, we are voting on SB 2924. Recommendation of the Chair is to pass the with amendments. Chair votes aye, Vice Chair also votes aye. Senator Ihara? Senator Keohokalole? Senator DeCorte? Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you. Moving on to Senate Bill 3127, relating to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act 1920 as amended. It is the recommendation of the Chair to pass with amendments. Specifically defect the date till September 9, 2129. Any discussion? Chair votes aye.

Members, we are voting on SB 3127. Recommendation of the Chair is pass with amendments. Noting all Members present. Anyone voting with reservations or no? Hearing none. All Members vote aye. Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you. And the final measure on the bill, Senate Bill 3248. There is a lot of support for this bill and there's some opposition. I think this is something that we do need to keep rolling, keep moving. So it is my recommendation to pass the bill with amendments. Specifically to defect the date to September 9, 2129. With that recommendation of the Chair, Chair votes aye.

Okay. Members, we are voting on SB 3248. Recommendation of the Chair is to pass with amendments. Noting all Members present. Anyone voting with reservations or no? Hearing none. Chair, all Members vote aye. Your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you, Committee Members. We are adjourned.