STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2474

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2875

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Water and Land, Energy and Environment, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2875 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ENDANGERED SPECIES RECOVERY COMMITTEE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Endangered Species Recovery Committee to include a person possessing a background in native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and four individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

     Your Committees find that currently, nearly all of the boards and commissions under the Department of Land and Natural Resources require a member with a background in native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices.  As the Department is obligated under the Hawaii State Constitution, state law, and case law to preserve and protect the exercise of traditional and customary native Hawaiian rights, it would provide great value to include on the Endangered Species Recovery Committee a person with expertise in this area to provide guidance on natural resource protection and management decisions.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water and Land, Energy and Environment, and Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2875 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water and Land, Energy and Environment, and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair	____________________________ MALAMA SOLOMON, Chair
	____________________________ MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair