Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2831, H.D. 2, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to preserve and protect Hawaii's unique coral reefs by:

1. Establishing a network of statewide marine no-take refuges or "pu`uhonua" under the management of the Department of Land and Natural Resources; and
2. Establishing the Pu`uhonua Committee to assist in the development and management of the pu'uhonua network.

The Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter, Hawaii's Thousand Friends, Hawaii Audobon Society, Pacific Whale Foundation, and three concerned citizens supported this measure. The Department of Budget and Finance, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaiian Island Recreational Scuba Association, Lahaina Divers, Inc., Activity Owners Association, Paradise Cruise, Ltd., Aqua Lung Pacific, Eco-Adventures, Inc., Coon Brothers, Inc., Captain Andy's Sailing, Inc., Ocean Tourism Coalition, and the Diving Kauai Companies opposed this bill.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2831, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2831, H.D. 3.