STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1351

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 171

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Energy and Environment, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 171 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE STATE OF HAWAII TO RECOGNIZE THE THIRD SATURDAY OF EVERY APRIL AS "HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL DAY" AND TO COORDINATE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOVERY PLAN FOR THE HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL WITH THE FEDERAL AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to urge the State to recognize the third Sunday of every April as "Hawaiian Monk Seal Day" and to coordinate the implementation of the recovery plan for the Hawaiian monk seal with the federal and county governments.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by one state department, one private organization, and ten individuals.  Written testimony presented to your Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds that the Hawaiian monk seal is critically endangered—over the past fifty years, the Hawaiian monk seal population has declined by more than sixty per cent.  Through the efforts of many government and non-governmental agencies, the population of Hawaiian monk seals seems to be slightly increasing in the Main Hawaiian Islands; however, overall, the seal population in our Hawaiian archipelago is still declining by approximately four per cent a year. 

     Your Committee finds that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) conducts a semi-annual Hawaiian Monk Seal Count in April, with the assistance of many dedicated volunteer residents throughout Hawaii.  In addition to keeping track of the number of seals in the Main Hawaiian Islands, this project helps to educate the public of the appropriate actions to be taken when encountering a critically endangered monk seal.  Because one of the challenges facing monk seals that live on populated islands is human disturbance, this public information is critical to protect these animals and help their population recover from endangerment.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive changes for style, consistency, and accuracy.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 171, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 171, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy and Environment,

____________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair