STAND. COM. REP. NO.  497-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 2357

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2357 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAWAIIAN KONOHIKI MANAGEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to recognize the ahu moku system as a means to achieve food sustainability and self-sufficiency in the State by authorizing the Aha Moku Advisory Committee to provide advice to the Chair of the Board of Land and Natural Resources on establishing and applying traditional Hawaiian konohiki management practices to restore fishery food stocks and environmental well-being in consultation with specified fishing communities.

The Aha Moku Advisory Committee and three concerned individuals supported this measure.  Four concerned individuals opposed this measure.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Center for Hawaiian Sovereignty Studies commented on this measure.

     Your Committee respectfully requests that the Committee on Finance, should it consider this measure, address the potential need for the creation of a Konohiki Management Plan by the Aha Moku Advisory Committee in effectuating the intent of this measure. Your Committee also respectfully requests the Committee on Finance to consider an appropriation in the amount of $110,000

to the Aha Moku Advisory Committee to implement the responsibilities established by this measure, including the cost of travel.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2357 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,

____________________________

JESSICA WOOLEY, Chair