HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	149
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 1

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO REVIEW, DEVELOP, AND IMPLEMENT ADMINISTRATIVE RULES AND POLICIES TO FACILITATE AND ENCOURAGE TRADITIONAL HAWAIIAN BURIALS.

 

 

     WHEREAS, there has been a recent increase of interest in traditional Hawaiian practices for burials amongst Native Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians; and

 

     WHEREAS, a recognized traditional Hawaiian practice for treatment of a corpse involves reducing a corpse to its skeletal remains, known as "iwi", and interring the iwi in a kapa or lauhala container; and

 

     WHEREAS, for purposes of this measure, "traditional Hawaiian burial" means the use of modern technology to effect the removal of the flesh and fluids from a human corpse in a manner leaving na iwi (the bones) intact and unharmed.  Traditional Hawaiian burial is consistent with traditional practices such as umu (above ground oven) and the use of caves for natural decomposition; and

 

     WHEREAS, traditional Hawaiian burial is safe, feasible, and cost effective through the use of modern crematories or other similar operations; and

 

     WHEREAS, modern treatment of corpses often involves chemicals such as embalming fluids which when buried, can be harmful to the environment as the chemicals will eventually be released into the soil and aquifers; and

 

     WHEREAS, in comparison to modern burial techniques, a traditional Hawaiian burial is a cleaner, more environmentally friendly process; and

 

     WHEREAS, a traditional Hawaiian burial is also more cost effective than modern burial techniques as a smaller burial plot is required and costs of caskets are avoided; and

 

WHEREAS, the decrease in space required for a burial plot will result in an increase in the carrying capacities for cemeteries; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Department of Health does not have rules and policies addressing traditional Hawaiian burial practices; and

 

     WHEREAS, adopting rules and policies to address traditional Hawaiian burial practices would encourage and promote the use of traditional Hawaiian burial practices; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2015, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Health is requested to review, develop, and implement administrative rules and policies applicable to the processing, burial, and transportation of a corpse that would encourage and promote the use of traditional Hawaiian burial practices; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is requested to submit a report on its findings and actions to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2016; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor and Director of Health.

Report Title: 

Traditional Hawaiian Burials; Department of Health; Rules and Regulations