H.C.R. NO. 5 Summary

• Requests the Department of Land and Natural Resources adopt updated administrative rules to strengthen protections for Native Hawaiian burial sites (iwi kupuna) and historic cultural resources, as current rules have not been substantially updated in over 15 years.

• Calls for establishing standards for professional responsibility in archaeology, including permitting processes and disciplinary procedures for archaeologists whose practices harm historical resources.

• Requires reclassification of "inadvertently discovered" burials as "previously identified" in certain circumstances and grants Island Burial Councils greater authority and deference in determining treatment of Native Hawaiian burials.

• Mandates recording of preservation site boundaries with the Bureau of Conveyances to ensure perpetual protection of historic sites and clarifies consultation requirements with Native Hawaiian communities during historic preservation review processes.

• Requests the Department submit a progress report to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2021 regular session convening and requires certified copies be transmitted to all Island Burial Councils and relevant state agencies.