H.R. 108 Summary

• Urges the Native Hawaiian Convention to establish a working group to develop recommendations and strategies for creating Hawaiian nationality as a protected class under Hawaii's anti-discrimination laws.

• Directs the working group to examine discrimination against Hawaiian nationals in education, employment, housing, public accommodations, lending, law enforcement, voting rights, jury service, military service, health care, public safety, public service, and licensing.

• Proposes defining "Hawaiian nationals" as individuals who declare themselves as such and meet at least one criterion: direct lineal ancestry to pre-1778 Hawaiian Islands residents, descendants of Hawaiian Kingdom subjects/citizens before July 4, 1894, or persons born in Hawaii or resident for five continuous years.

• Establishes a nine-member working group comprising representatives from the Native Hawaiian Convention (chair), Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Attorney General, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, University of Hawaii law school, and four individuals of declared Hawaiian nationality selected by the Native Hawaiian Convention and Governor.

• Requires the working group to submit reports with findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days before each regular session beginning in 2021 for three years, with no compensation for members but reimbursement for incidental expenses.