STAND. COM. REP. NO.  766-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 2552

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 2552, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO OCEAN RESOURCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to assist with the resolution of user conflicts among commercial boat tours, fishers, and non-commercial users, including Native Hawaiians exercising gathering and subsistence rights, in Pohoiki Bay by directing the Department of Land and Natural Resources to conduct a study and report to the Legislature, and to establish and maintain a conservation enforcement officer position for the Pohoiki Bay area.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Department of Budget and Finance submitted comments on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Directing the Department to also conduct a similar study to resolve user conflict at Keauhou Bay on Hawaii Island and report its results to the Legislature; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2552, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2552, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

CINDY EVANS, Chair