2018-02-26 Letter to Sylvia Luke and ty J.K. Cullen re HB 1999, HD 2 Relating to Training courses on Native Hawaiian and Hawaiian Rights

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Harry Kim Mayor unfg. ffirr of Wil Okabe itJanaging Director Barbara J. .Kossow Deputy Managing Director 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • (808) 961-8211 • Fax (808) 961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg 0 • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 (808) 323-4444 • Fax (808) 323-4440 February 26, 2018 Representative Sylvia Luke, Chair Committee on Finance Hawaii State Capitol, Room 308 Honolulu, HI 96813 Representative Ty J.K. Cullen, Vice -Chair Committee on Finance Hawari State Capitol, Room 308 Honolulu, HI 96813 Dear Chair Luke, Vice -Chair Cullen and Cornmittee Members: HB 1999, HD 2 Relating to Training Courses on Native Hawaiian and awaiian Rights Hearing ate: 02/28/18 — 12:00 pm; House Conference Room 308 1 am often reluctant to endorse any mandate, especially an unfunded mandate that will impact county governments. However, there are few things as important as fostering a better understanding of Hawaii's First Nation, and 1 have heard great things about the OFIA training course® Therefore, 1 support the concept behind HB 1999, HD 2. However, !think there needs to be more detail. For example, what is the time commitment that each participant must make? It would seem that if training is mandated, there should also be a mandate that the course be no more than a certain number of hours and no more than a day or half-day. I would also ask that provision be made to offer the courses on the neighbor islands so that travel will not become a barrier to participation. It seems to me that at least twice a year on each island would be the minimum necessary. Third, it is not clear what happens if a "mandate" is violated. Suppose a duly elected County Council member fails to take the training for some reason; what is the consequence? Or if a Planning Commissioner, all of whom are volunteers, fails to attend, is he or she automatically dismissed from the Commission? That could have the unintended consequence of making it more difficult to find good citizens to serve, and it is sometimes difficult to find good people even now. County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.