SECTION 1. Section 171-4.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§171-4.5[]] Aha moku advisory committee; established. (a) There is established the aha moku advisory committee to be placed within the department of land and natural resources for administrative purposes. The committee may advise the chairperson of the board of land and natural resources in carrying out the purposes of this section.

(b) The committee shall consist of eight members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate from a list of nominations submitted by the aha moku councils system of each island. The term of each member shall be four years. No person shall be appointed to more than two terms; provided that membership shall not exceed an aggregate of eight years. Oversight of the aha moku advisory committee shall be by the chairperson of the board of land and natural resources. The committee members shall select the committee chairperson and vice chairperson from among the members. The committee chairperson shall:

(1) Chair each committee meeting;

(2) Attend board meetings;

(3) Provide committee recommendations to the chairperson of the board of land and natural resources for inclusion in the board agenda; and

(4) Provide the aha moku council system with advocacy and assistance in developing and adopting rules that will impact native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices.

(1) Meet with the member's respective island aha moku councils prior to committee meetings to gather recommendations from the aha moku councils, to be submitted to the committee;

(2) Provide the member's respective aha moku councils with information and materials on matters present before the committee, and gather input from the island aha moku councils prior to decision-making; and

(3) Report to the member's respective island aha moku councils on committee decision and actions.

[~~(c)~~] (d) The members shall not receive compensation for their service, but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses, including travel expenses, incurred while participating in meetings and events approved in advance by the chairperson of the board of land and natural resources.

The aha moku advisory committee may hire an [~~executive director~~] executive assistant who shall be exempt from chapter 76. The [~~executive director~~] committee may hire [~~an administrative or executive assistant~~] any additional persons necessary to assist the [~~executive director~~] committee in accomplishing the purposes of the aha moku advisory committee[.] pursuant to this section.

(e) The executive assistant shall provide administrative assistance to the committee, including:

(1) Preparing all documents and recommendations of the aha moku council system of each island for review and recommendations by the committee;

(2) Providing committee members with logistical assistance, including coordination of air and ground transportation and boarding for attendance at committee meetings and events;

(3) Providing administrative assistance for committee meetings, including recording minutes, taking attendance, and providing logistical assistance;

(4) Assisting the committee in its communication with the aha moku council system of each moku and island;

(5) Assisting the committee in its communication with the general public, chairperson of the board of land and natural resources, and the various divisions of the department;

(6) Assisting the committee in developing and adopting rules relating to the committee's function and duties;

(7) Providing the committee administrative assistance in establishing an annual schedule of monthly meetings, including logistical assistance;

(8) Assisting the committee in establishing and maintaining communications with stakeholders on each island;

(9) Assisting the committee in attending to the capacity needs of each aha moku council system, as identified by the aha moku councils, including but not limited to the development and acquisition of necessary funding for the operations and activities of each moku;

(10) Providing the committee with a biannual budget for review and approval, which shall be provided to the chairperson of the board of land and natural resources for inclusion in the department's budget request; and

(11) Assisting the committee in developing other funding mechanisms, including the preparation of materials for committee review and approval.

[~~(d)~~] (f) The aha moku advisory committee [~~may~~], through its chairperson, shall provide advice and recommendations to the chairperson of the board of land and natural resources on the following:

(1) Integrating indigenous resource management practices with western management practices in each moku;

(2) Identifying a comprehensive set of indigenous practices for natural resource management;

(3) Fostering the understanding and practical use of native Hawaiian resource knowledge, methodology, and expertise;

(4) Sustaining the State's marine, land, cultural, agricultural, and natural resources;

(5) Providing community education and fostering cultural awareness on the benefits of the aha moku system;

(6) Fostering protection and conservation of the State's natural resources; and

(7) Developing an administrative structure [~~that oversees~~] to establish a process for disseminating and receiving information to and from the aha moku council system[.] of each island.

(e) The committee shall submit an annual report in English and Hawaiian to the legislature and the chairperson of the board of land and natural resources no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular legislative session. The annual report shall include a list of all recommendations made by the committee and the resulting action taken by the department over the course of the prior year."

SECTION 2. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	875
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015
STATE OF HAWAII