REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS TO ASSESS ITS READINESS AND ABILITY TO ASSUME STEWARDSHIP OF THE SACRED HAWAIIAN GROUNDS OF MAUNA ALA.

This Senate Resolution (SR 136) requests the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) to study whether it can take over management of Mauna Ala, a sacred Hawaiian burial site containing royal tombs since 1865. OHA must report its findings and recommendations - including any needed legislation - to the Legislature by January 2026, and develop public education programs about the site's cultural significance. The resolution also asks the Department of Land and Natural Resources to create stewardship guidelines incorporating traditional Hawaiian practices. It does not transfer management but seeks transparency amid ongoing discussions about who should care for the site.