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Harry Kim <br />Oinurtfil of Paitntil <br />Wil Okabe <br />Alanaging Director <br />Barbara J. Kossow <br />L)eputy Managing Director <br />Offirr of f allot <br />25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • (808) 961-8211 • Fax (808) 961-6553 <br />KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg C • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 <br />(808) 323-4444 • Fax (808) 323-4440 <br />February 13, 2018 <br />Representative Aaron Ling Johanson, Chair <br />Committee on Labor & Public Employment <br />Hawaii State Capitol, Room 309 <br />Honolulu, HI 96813 <br />Dear Chair Johanson and Committee Members: <br />Re: HB 1999, HD 1 Relating to Training Courses on Native Hawaiian and Hawaiian <br />Rights <br />Hearin. Date: 02/15/18 — 10:30 am, House Conference Room 309 <br />I am often reluctant to endorse any mandate, especially an unfunded mandate that will impact <br />county governments. owever, there are few things as important as fostering a better understanding of <br />Hawaii's First Nation, and I have heard great things about the OHA training course. <br />Therefore, I support the concept behind HB 1999, HDI. However, I think there needs to be more <br />detail. For example, what is the time commitment that each participant must make? It would seem that if <br />training is mandated, there should also be a mandate that the course be no more than a certain number <br />of hours. <br />I would also ask that a provision be made to offer the courses on the neighbor islands so that <br />travel will not become a barrier to participation. It seems to me that at least twice a year on each island <br />would be the minimum necessary. <br />Finally, as I am sure others have noted, it is not clear what happens if a "mandate" is violated. <br />Suppose a duly elected County Council member fails to take the training for some reason; what is the <br />consequence? In the beginning, would you consider offering the courses to the targeted officials, rather <br />than requiring participation. I know that I would strongly encourage my appointees to attend, and I am <br />confident that other Mayors would do the same. <br />Requiring that the course be offered, rather than mandating that it be taken, would also address a <br />concern that has been voiced about the content of the course. If the audience for the course is not <br />required to be there, but is attending because the course is of high quality, there would be some built-in <br />protection against a change in content, at some time in the future, which would make the course less <br />valuable to the decision makers listed in the bill. <br />Harry Kim <br />Mayor, County of Hawaii <br />County of Hawail is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Ern )1 <br />