Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water, Land, and Agriculture and Intergovernmental Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 92 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge Hawaii's congressional delegation to work toward national park status for the Kawainui Marsh Complex.

A United States Congressman, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii's Thousand Friends, the Kawai Nui Heritage Foundation, the Wildlife Society – Hawaii Chapter, the Windward Ahupua'a Alliance, and eight individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure.

Wetlands are a source of water, food, recreation, transportation, and, for some, a part of local and cultural heritage. They provide groundwater replenishment, benefit inhabitants of entire watersheds, and play a vital role in storm and flood protection and water filtration.

Recently, the United States designated three new Ramsar sites, one of them being the Kawainui and Hamakua Marsh Complexes located on the northeast coast of the island of Oahu. This measure urges Hawaii's congressional delegation to continue working toward designating Kawainui and Hamakua Marsh Complexes for National Park protection.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water, Land, and Agriculture and Intergovernmental Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 92, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 92, S.D. 1.