SCR 161 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO EXAMINE AND CONSIDER THE TRANSFER OF NATIVE HAWAIIAN BURIAL SITE MANAGEMENT UNDER CHAPTER 6E, HAWAII REVISED STATUTES, FROM THE STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION DIVISION TO THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS.

SCR 161 is a resolution requesting the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) to convene a working group to examine and consider transferring management of Native Hawaiian burial sites from the State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) to OHA. This resolution does not change current law but asks OHA to study whether this transfer would better protect culturally significant burial sites under Chapter 6E, Hawaii Revised Statutes. The request follows prior findings that current management has inadequacies in protecting these sites and addresses longstanding concerns about Native Hawaiian burial site stewardship.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 7, 2025 Last action Apr 4, 2025

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What changed between versions

SCR161 → SCR161_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill was reformatted from a traditional legislative document to a digital template format, with substantive additions including a new conflict of interest provision and expanded working group membership requirements. The changes add a specific reason for transferring burial site management authority (resolving potential conflicts of interest in the State Historic Preservation Division) and increase community representation on the working group.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on transferring Native Hawaiian burial site management from the State Historic Preservation Division to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, but the justification and implementation details have been expanded.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new provision addressing potential conflicts of interest in the State Historic Preservation Division's historic preservation reviews and recommendations to Island Burial Councils as justification for transferring authority.

Expanded working group membership to include one representative from Hui Iwi Kuamo'o, a leading repatriation and reburial advocacy organization.

TECHNICAL

Changed document format from traditional legislative markup to digital template format with metadata fields.

TIMELINE

Established a specific deadline for the working group to submit its report: twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to WAL, JHA, referral sheet 28

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 522) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report and Resolution Adopted, as amended (SD 1). Transmitted to House.

upper

Apr 2, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported from HWN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1565) with recommendation of adoption, as amended (SD 1).

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HWN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HWN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Richards, San Buenaventura, Ihara, Keohokalole, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HWN has scheduled a public hearing on 04-01-25 1:10PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 12, 2025

Committee

Referred to HWN.

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Introduced

Offered.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors