STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2470

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2879

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2879 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PAPAHANAUMOKUAKEA MARINE NATIONAL MONUMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to recognize in state law the State's role in co-managing the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Aha Moku Advisory Committee.

     Your Committee finds that on June 15, 2006, the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Marine Monument was established by Presidential Proclamation 8031 under the authority of the U.S. Antiquities Act (16 U.S.C. 431-433).  The State of Hawaii, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and United States Fish and Wildlife Service, were named as the Co-Trustees for the area.  State recognition of the State's role in co-management and underlying responsibilities for the area is critical to maintain state sovereignty and to underscore the State's commitment to the resources of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument over the long term.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2879 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

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MALAMA SOLOMON, Chair