HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	80
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO ESTABLISH A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY THE POTENTIAL TRANSFEr of management and maintenance OF THE ROYAL MAUSOLEUM AT MAUNa ‘ALA TO ONE OR MORE APPROPRIATE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIOns.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, the Royal Mausoleum at Mauna ‘Ala ("Mauna ‘Ala") in Nu‘uanu, Honolulu, is the 2.7 acre wahi pana of many of Hawai‘i's Ali‘i and their confidantes; and

 

     WHEREAS, Mauna ‘Ala is currently owned and managed by the Division of State Parks of the Department of Land and Natural Resources of the State of Hawai‘i ("DLNR"); and

 

     WHEREAS, under the guidance of Mauna ‘Ala Curator, Kahu William Bishop Kaihe‘ekai Maioho, the DLNR bears the primary responsibility for managing and maintaining Mauna ‘Ala, along with the support of the Estate of Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the Queen Lili‘uokalani Trust, the William Charles Lunalilo Trust Estate, the Abigail K. Kawānanakoa Foundation, The Queen's Health Systems, and the Charles Reed Bishop Trust (collectively, the "Royal Parties"); and

 

     WHEREAS, the DLNR, the Royal Parties, and the Kahu of Mauna ‘Ala have engaged in a cooperative effort to fund and undertake much needed repairs and renovations at Mauna ‘Ala; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes the need to transfer the ongoing stewardship and maintenance of Mauna ‘Ala to one or more nonprofit organizations with culturally-sensitive property management expertise, financial resources, and strong genealogical and cultural ties to Mauna ‘Ala to assist the Kahu of Mauna ‘Ala with the ongoing management and maintenance of Mauna ‘Ala for the benefit of the public; and

 

WHEREAS, as ceded lands may only be conveyed for one of the purposes set forth in the Admission Act, references to the public may be helpful to show that the conveyance is consistent with "the provision of lands for public use," one of the trust purposes set forth in the Admission Act; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawai‘i, Regular Session of 2017, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources establish a working group to study the potential transfer of management and maintenance of the Royal Mausoleum at Mauna ‘Ala to one or more appropriate nonprofit organizations; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group consist of the following eight members:

 

(1)  Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, or the Chairperson's designee;

 

(2)  One representative from each of the Royal Parties; and

 

(3)  Kahu William Bishop Kaihe‘ekai Maioho, Kahu of Mauna ‘Ala; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group shall select a chairperson from among themselves, and the chairperson is requested to convene working group meetings; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to:

 

(1)  Determine whether it would be in the best interests of the descendants of Hawaiian royalty and the people of Hawai‘i to transfer ownership and management of Mauna ‘Ala in perpetuity to one or more appropriate non-profit organizations with culturally-sensitive property management expertise, financial resources, and strong familial and cultural ties to Mauna ‘Ala; and

 

(2)  Develop and recommend the terms of such transfer of Mauna ‘Ala, including any proposed State actions and a timeline for the implementation of such State actions; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group submit a report of its findings, analyses, and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2018; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees for The Estate of Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the Board of Trustees of The Queen Lili‘uokalani Trust, the Chairperson of the William Charles Lunalilo Trust Estate, the President of the Abigail K. Kawānanakoa Foundation, the Chief Executive Officer of The Queen's Health Systems, the Trustees of the Charles Reed Bishop Trust, and Kahu William Bishop Kaihe‘ekai Maioho.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Royal Mausoleum at Mauna ‘Ala; Working Group