STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1946-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   S.C.R. No. 77

      S.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs and Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 77, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO PROCLAIM JUNE 8TH OF EVERY YEAR AS WORLD OCEAN DAY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request that the President of the United States proclaim June 8th of every year as World Ocean Day.

     Testimony in support was submitted by The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, Kai Makana, and thirty interested individuals.  Girl Scout Troop 401 submitted testimony in support of this measure and attached a petition with approximately 486 signatures in support of this measure.  An individual testified in support with amendments.  Testimony in support of the intent of this measure was submitted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

     Your Committee finds that the concept of World Ocean Day was established in 1992 at the United Nations Earth Summit.  The world's oceans are critical to maintaining the planet's ecosystems and are essential to human health and well-being.

     Your Committee further finds that Hawaii's location in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and its distinction of being the farthest removed islands from any other body of land in the world makes it an appropriate participant in World Ocean Day.

     Your Committee notes that ocean environments around the world are collapsing for many different reasons, some of which being: uncontrolled uses, pollution, invasive species, and unsustainable coastal development.  Proclamation of World Ocean Day can be an opportunity to educate the world's population about conserving and protecting the world's oceans and fragile marine environment.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs and Energy & Environmental Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 77, S.D. 1, and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs and Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________ HERMINA MORITA, Chair

____________________________ KEN ITO, Chair