STAND. COM. REP. NO.  119-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   H.B. No. 2820

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources, to which was referred H.B. No. 2820 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAWAIIAN FISHPONDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish the east Honolulu fishpond heritage area.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center, the Kuli'ou'ou/Kalani Iki Neighborhood Board No. 2 and three individuals provided testimony in support of this measure.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources provided testimony in opposition to this measure.

     The Department of Land and Natural Resources testified that it opposed this measure as written and suggested that, among other things, the language be amended to preserve existing cultural and historical sites, native plants and animals, and spring water sources.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by requiring that the Department of Land and Natural Resources:

     (1)  Preserve existing cultural and historical sites;

     (2)  Preserve existing native Hawaiian fish, plants, and endangered birds that presently inhabit the area; and

     (3)  Preserve existing water sources.

     Your Committee has also removed the requirements that the Department of Land and Natural Resources:

     (1)  Provide a site for future public interpretation of the cultural, biological, and historical areas of the fishponds; and

     (2)  Provide for the reconstruction, rehabilitation, improvement, and stocking of the fishponds.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2820, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2820, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

JERRY L. CHANG, Chair