H.R. 186 Summary

• Requests the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) to convene a working group to examine transferring Native Hawaiian burial site management from the State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) to OHA under Chapter 6E, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

• Working group must identify which SHPD duties regarding Native Hawaiian burial site protection and Island Burial Council administration could be shared with or assumed by OHA.

• Working group directed to assess OHA's staff, financial resources, legal requirements, and technological needs to determine feasibility of the transfer and develop an implementation plan.

• Working group to consider recommendations from the February 2023 Burial Sites Working Group report and address potential conflicts of interest in the current SHPD system.

• Working group must submit findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation to the Legislature no later than 20 days before the 2027 Regular Session, with membership including representatives from SHPD, OHA, each Island Burial Council, and five community experts in Native Hawaiian burial site protection.