Bill > HB2231

This bill transfers the authority to appoint members of island burial councils, which are responsible for decisions regarding Native Hawaiian skeletal remains (iwi), from the Governor and Senate to the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA). The bill aims to address chronic vacancies and delays in appointments that have hindered the councils' ability to function effectively and make timely decisions about iwi preservation. By giving OHA, which has a constitutional mandate to serve Native Hawaiians and steward cultural resources, the appointment power, the bill seeks to ensure appointments are culturally appropriate, reflect genealogical connections, and maintain community trust, thereby advancing Native Hawaiian self-determination and strengthening cultural integrity in the protection of ancestral remains. The bill also clarifies that certain existing laws regarding appointments will not apply to these councils, and establishes a transparent appointment process including public notice and hearings, sets four-year terms for council members with limits on consecutive terms, and allows OHA to remove members for cause after due notice and hearing. The Department of Land and Natural Resources and the State Historic Preservation Division will coordinate with OHA on orientation and operational support, and the bill specifies that it takes effect on July 1, 3000.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=2231&year=2026