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.

HCR 193 is a concurrent resolution requesting the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) to convene a working group to examine transferring management of Native Hawaiian burial sites (under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 6E) from the State Historic Preservation Division to OHA. It does not change laws but asks OHA to study this transfer following findings that current management has failed to adequately protect burial sites and involves inadequate resources and decision-making. The resolution cites a 2023 working group report identifying systemic failures in the State's administration of burial site laws and references OHA's constitutional role in representing Native Hawaiians. This request follows advocacy from burial site experts and aligns with OHA's statutory duty to advance Native Hawaiian interests.