Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Media, Arts, Science, and Technology and Transportation and Government Operations, to which was referred H.B. No. 1982, H.D. 2, entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to permanently establish the humuhumunukunukuapua'a (Rhinecanthus rectangulus) as the official fish of the State.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and two concerned school children. Your Committees also received one hundred twenty-eight signatures in support from fourth graders attending Lanakila Elementary School.

The humuhumunukunukuapua'a (Rhinecanthus rectangulus), also commonly known as the rectangular triggerfish, was designated as the official state fish in 1985; however, it is a little known fact that the enabling legislation was automatically repealed five years later in 1990. The general public still mistakenly assumes that the humuhumunukunukuapua'a is the state fish. Your Committees find that the humuhumunukunukuapua'a should be permanently designated as the official state fish.

Your Committees have amended this measure to make a technical change by properly capitalizing Rhinecanthus rectangulus, which is the proper scientific nomenclature format.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Media, Arts, Science, and Technology and Transportation and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1982, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1982, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.