STAND. COM. REP. NO.  376-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 3440

      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 Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 3440 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ISLAND OF NI‘IHAU,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to protect the people and resources on the island of Niihau by designating the Niihau community based fisheries management area.

     The Office of Hawaiian Affairs testified in support of this bill.  The ‘Aha Kiole Advisory Committee supported the measure with amendments.  The Hawaii Nearshore Fishermen and a concerned individual opposed this measure.  Pae ‘Aina Communications, LLC, provided comments.

     To more effectively carry out the intent of this bill, your Committee has amended this bill by creating a marine life conservation district with exceptions for subsistence fishing and limu harvesting by the residents of Niihau, instead of a community based subsistence fishing area.   

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 3440, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 3440, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

KEN ITO, Chair