Senate Bill 436 is scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday, March 18th at 10:00 a.m., Conference Room 325 at the State Capitol.
Why should you support the bill?
This bill ensures that Hawai’i’s board and commission members are familiarized with their legal responsibilities regarding Native Hawaiian rights and the public trust doctrine. As government entities, state boards and commissions regularly make decisions involving public trust resources, and have an affirmative duty to protect and enforce the legal rights of Native Hawaiians. However, while board and commission members are often selected for their depth of expertise in a range of specialized areas, they may not necessarily have specific knowledge of their additional duties relating to Native Hawaiian rights and the public trust. By requiring certain board and commission members to attend an OHA-sponsored training course on these topics, this bill provides these individuals with the tools they need to fulfill their legal responsibilities. Learn more about the bill by reading the whitepaper.
For more information about SB436 or other bills from our 2015 legislative package, please visit oha.org/legislation.
How can you support the bill?
Support the bill by logging into the Hawai’i State Capitol website and submit testimony or testify in-person. This bill phases in the increased use of Hawaiian plants in new and renovated publicly-funded landscaping projects. Hawaiian plants are important both culturally and ecologically, and the use of Hawaiian plants fosters a uniquely Hawaiian sense of place.
Sample Testimony
I strongly SUPPORT SB436 which will require certain state boards and commission members to take a training course on Native Hawaiian rights and public trust law. I believe that it is important that these boards and commission members have the basic understanding about how their decisions affect Native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices, public trust resources, and protections for ‘iwi kupuna and sacred sites. This bill takes a positive step forward in reaffirming the state’s commitment to Native Hawaiians and communities across the state. I urge the committee to PASS this bill.