STAND. COM. REP. NO.  764-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2626

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Tourism & Culture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2626 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DESIGNATION OF THE HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL AS THE STATE MAMMAL OF HAWAI`I,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to raise public awareness of the endemic, but endangered, Hawaiian monk seal by designating the Hawaiian monk seal as the official state mammal of Hawaii.

     The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and several concerned individuals supported this bill.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2025, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for style, clarity, and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Tourism & Culture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2626, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2626, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Tourism & Culture,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair