Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources, to which was referred S.B. No. 895, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to protect Hawaii's marine environment, while preserving a sustainable supply of limu by:

The Nature Conservancy, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and concerned individuals testified in support of this bill. DLNR did not support this measure because it was already working on rules on a limu management area with input from the community.

Native limu play an important role in the marine ecosystem. Not only is limu a source of sustenance for many Hawaii residents, but it also serves to protect Hawaii's precious and unique marine

ecosystem. Protection of limu through the establishment of a limu management area along the shoreline of Ewa Beach on Oahu serves as a first, important step in protecting and invigorating the Hawaiian reef system.

Your Committee urges DLNR to expedite the adoption of its limu management area rules.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to December 31, 2006, to encourage further discussion.

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 S.B. No. 895, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 895, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.