STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2651

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2465

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Economic Development and Taxation, 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 measure is to designate a Hawaiian Monk Seal Day to promote outreach and educational programs regarding the endangered Hawaiian monk seal.

     Your Committee received widespread support for this measure and a related one, S.B. No. 2464, which would establish and designate the Hawaiian monk seal as the official state mammal.  Supportive testimony was submitted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources; the Conservation Council of Hawai‘i; the Marine Conservation Biology Institute, Hawaii; and over one hundred individuals; including the 4th Grade Class of Island Pacific Academy, the 5th Grade Class of St. Andrew's Priory, students from Kapunahala Elementary School, Sacred Hearts Academy, Kamehameha Schools, over seventy from James Campbell High School, and from the University of Hawai‘i.

     Many of the people who testified were volunteers who watched over Chester, the Hawaiian monk seal, who recently spent several weeks of his annual moult on the windward Oahu beaches of Kailua and Lanikai.  They spoke of how important it was to both protect Chester during the period when he was most vulnerable, and to educate the public who watched his progress – not always patiently or sympathetically.

     The members of your Committee commend the commitment of all those who supported both of these measures, including the many students, teachers, and individuals who attended the hearing and spoke so eloquently about the plight of the Hawaiian monk seal and the importance of protecting this endangered symbol of Hawai‘i.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development and Taxation 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 placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development and Taxation,

____________________________

CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair