Native Hawaiian Roll Commission update

HONOLULU (May 2, 2014) — The Senate Committee on Hawaiian Affairs held an informational briefing to hear an update on the progress of the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission on Monday at the Hawaii State Capitol.

The Native Hawaiian Roll Commission was established by Act 195 in 2011 to certify and publish a roll of Qualified Native Hawaiians for the purpose of organizing a Native Hawaiian governing entity that is recognized by the State of Hawai‘i, and can be recognized by the United States. Registration to the roll was open from July 20, 2012 – January 19, 2014 and reopened for a special extension from March 17 – May 1, 2014. Since officially closing registration on Thursday, May 1, the Commission has enrolled over 125,631 Native Hawaiians.

Monday’s informational briefing discussed the next steps for the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission.

“Legislators voted for the passage of the legislation creating the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission back in 2011 because it is important for Native Hawaiians to achieve and be recognized for their unrelinquished sovereignty,” said Senator Maile Shimabukuro, chair of the Committee on Hawaiian Affairs. “Registration is an important step in restoring self-governance to the Hawaiian Nation for those Hawaiians who choose to do so.  I look forward to learning more about how the roll will be used in nation building efforts.”