STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3671

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 22

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Water, Land, and Agriculture and Government Operations, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 22, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SUPPORTING GAME MAMMAL, GAME BIRD, AND FISHING RESOURCES IN ORDER TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABILITY AND FOOD SECURITY AND TO PRESERVE LONG STANDING LOCAL AND CULTURAL PRACTICES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to support game mammal, game bird, and fishing resources in order to promote sustainability and food security and to preserve long standing local and cultural practices.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the County of Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission, The Society for Hawaii Heritage Animals, Hawaii Hunting Association, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, and twenty-two individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

     Your Committees find that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is mandated by the Hawaii State Constitution to conserve and protect Hawaii's natural resources and to promote the development and use of these resources consistent with their conservation and in furtherance of the self-sufficiency of the State.  Your Committees further find that game mammals and game birds are important resources for food, including subsistence hunting, and for sport, and are managed as game resources for food and sport in identified game management areas.  Your Committees find that the Department of Land and Natural Resources should make additional efforts to work with hunters and to recognize game mammals and game birds as resources in game management areas, but also recognize that since game animals are non-native, invasive species, any recognition of game animals as natural resources in all areas could conflict with the Hawaii State Constitution and the goals of the Department and the State.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by correcting the reference to the maximum amount of game that is harvested each year from 1,000,000 pounds to 500,000 pounds.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water, Land, and Agriculture and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 22, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 22, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water, Land, and Agriculture and Government Operations,

________________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair