STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1171-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   S.B. No. 2465

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 S.B. No. 2465 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL DAY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to protect and preserve the Hawaiian Monk Seal, one of only two mammals endemic to Hawaii, by designating the third Saturday in April as Hawaiian Monk Seal Day. 

     The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Conservation Council for Hawaii, and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.

     Your Committee finds that the Hawaiian Monk Seal is endangered, currently numbering only 1,200.  This bill is necessary to support the outreach and education activities essential to their survival. 

     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 S.B. No. 2465 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Tourism & Culture.

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

____________________________

KEN ITO, Chair