STAND. COM. REP. NO. 193

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 694
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, and Hawaiian Affairs, to
which was referred S.B. No. 694 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE KAENA POINT
     COASTAL RESERVE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate $1,659,414,
for the Department of Land and Natural Resources to expand its
preservation activities in the Kaena Point Coastal Reserve.

     Testimony in support of the measure was received from a
private citizen.

     Your Committee finds that the coastal area of Kaena Point, a
natural reserve area, is unique in offering a wilderness
experience to residents of Oahu within a short drive.  The Kaena
Point Coastal Reserve offers tide pools, coastal sand dunes,
habitat for rare plant species and associated insects, wildlife
habitat for native animals including the endangered pueo, or
Hawaiian short-eared owl, and monk seal, nesting sites for
seabirds such as the Laysan albatross and wedgetail shearwater,
an abundance of historic and cultural sites, and an offshore
habitat for reef fish and other marine animals that is a magnet
for fishermen, marine predators like spinner dolphins, and
migrating humpback whales.

     After seven years of improved resource management and a ban
on motorized vehicles, the natural area reserve portion at Kaena

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 193
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Point is in good condition.  The ground cover is quickly
returning.  Monk seals are regularly seen on the beaches.  Rare
plants indigenous to the area are showing signs of recovery.  The
leeward side is recovering at a slower pace due to the dryer
climate and established alien grasses.

     Your Committee believes that more needs to be done to
restore coastal ecosystems and protect threatened and endangered
species, protect historic and cultural sites, and maintain access
to the wilderness area for compatible activities.

     Your Committee has amended the measure by deleting the
specified dollar amount.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Water, Land, and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached
to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of S.B. No. 694, as amended herein, and recommends that
it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B.
No. 694, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and
Means.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Water, Land, and
                                   Hawaiian Affairs,



                                   ______________________________
                                   COLLEEN HANABUSA, Chair

 
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