Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources, to which was referred H.B. No. 2635 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to protect the Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve (Reserve), an area which contains many ancient Hawaiian archaeological and cultural sites and valuable natural resources, by requiring the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) to implement the Limited Public Access and Management Plan (Plan), a plan created by the Ahihi-Kinau/Keoneoio Advisory Group. The Plan makes a variety of provisions for the protection of valuable natural resources in the Reserve.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) opposed this measure. DLNR reported that a draft management plan has been prepared and is going through the process, therefore, the bill is unnecessary. Although such may be the case, your Committee believes this measure deserves further consideration.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2635 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.