Committee defers one nominee, advises and consents to four island burial-council nominees

The Senate Committee on Hawaiian Affairs deferred decision on one Molokai Island Burial Council nomination and approved four other nominations during its April 1 meeting in Conference Room 224.

The deferred nomination involved Kawai Puna Kalipi, nominated to the Molokai Island Burial Council. Kalipi, who testified by video, asked the committee to hold her nomination until the council has enough members to achieve quorum; she later formally asked to withdraw the nomination from consideration at this session. Committee members then proceeded to advise and consent to nominees for Maui, Molokai/Maui/Lanai and Lahaina‑reserved seats.

Why it matters: Island burial councils are the statutory bodies that review and advise on discovery, treatment and protection of iwi kūpuna and burial sites. Several testifiers said vacancies and long stretches without quorum have left councils unable to act, exposing fragile cultural sites to risk and legal vulnerability.

Committee discussion and public testimony focused on the cultural qualifications of nominees and the operational problem created by vacant seats. Lena Alale (Office of Hawaiian Affairs) and Jessica Puff (administrator, State Historic Preservation Division) read written testimony in support of nominees and described cultural, professional and stewardship experience. Maui County Council member Kiani Rollins Fernandez and multiple community testifiers urged the committee to confirm nominees so councils reach quorum and can act locally, especially after the 2023 Lahaina fires.

Nominee Kawai Puna Kalipi told the committee she was honored but reluctant to serve when the Molokai council lacks quorum: "I respectfully request to put my nomination on hold until a time that there are enough committee members to achieve quorum," she said. Kalipi also warned of legal risks from long‑standing vacancies, saying delays "have the potential to be escalated to a high risk lawsuit for the state because of its many delays in filling these vacancies over the years."

Other nominees who spoke or had supporters testify included Dean (Dane) Maxwell for the Maui and Lānaʻi seat and Benedette Dumas (who prefers the name "Honey Girl") for the Lahaina‑reserved seat. Maxwell described his cultural upbringing and family connection to stewardship; Dumas and multiple community members described generational ties to Lahaina burial care and disaster recovery work.

Votes at a glance: GM 674 (Kawai Puna Kalipi, Molokai) — Deferred to April 10, 2025 at 1:00 p.m.; nominee requested hold/withdrew for this session. GM 676 (Dean/Dane Maxwell, Maui/Lānaʻi) — Chair's recommendation: advise and consent; adopted unanimously. GM 677 (Noelani Parisa, Maui) — Chair's recommendation: advise and consent; adopted unanimously. GM 678 (Caroline Hartman, East Maui seat) — Chair's recommendation: advise and consent; adopted unanimously. GM 679 (Benedette "Honey Girl" Dumas, Lahaina‑reserved seat) — Chair's recommendation: advise and consent; adopted unanimously.

Discussion vs. decision: The committee explicitly separated interviews and public testimony from voting. For Kalipi the committee moved the matter into deferred decision making after she asked to hold the nomination until quorum issues were resolved; the chair set a deferred decision date of April 10 at 1:00 p.m. The other nominees were confirmed at the meeting by voice vote following the chair's recommendation.

What was clarified on the record: The committee explained Senate advise‑and‑consent timing rules to Kalipi — if a nominee remains unconfirmed at the end of the legislative session the nominee is "deemed rejected" for that session. The chair said the governor can later make interim appointments outside the session calendar, but those appointments would require later confirmation.

The committee adjourned after completing the agenda and voting on the nominations.