STAND. COM. REP. NO. 993

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 31

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Water and Land, Higher Education, and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 31 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO CONDUCT AN EXTENSIVE STATEWIDE PUEO HABITAT INVENTORY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Department of Land and Natural Resources, in collaboration with the University of Hawaii, nonprofit environmental organizations, and other stakeholders, to conduct an inventory of pueo habitat in Hawaii.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the American Bird Conservancy, Conservation Council for Hawai‘i, Hawaii Audubon Society, Hawaii's Thousand Friends, Kanehili Cultural Hui, Democratic Party of Hawaii Education and Environmental Caucuses, and several individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

     Your Committees find that the pueo is an important member of Hawaii's biological community and holds a special place in Hawaiian culture.  Your Committees also find that while the pueo is listed as endangered by the State, there remains much that is unknown about the pueo in Hawaii, including population size and distribution, movement patterns, and habitat use.  A statewide habitat inventory is a necessary first step toward properly protecting and managing the pueo.  Your Committees note that it may be difficult to complete an extensive statewide inventory in the given timeframe with available resources.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Recognizing the ongoing cooperation of SunEdison, LLC; Kaheawa Wind Power II; Kahuku Wind Power; Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission; University of Hawaii; United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and United States Department of Agriculture with the State in efforts to protect the pueo;

     (2)  Urging the pueo habitat inventory to emphasize the island of Oahu;

     (3)  Requesting the Department of Land and Natural Resources to submit an interim report no later than one month prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2018, including an estimate of the time and resources necessary to complete a statewide pueo population estimate and statewide habitat inventory;

     (4)  Resolving that certified copies of the resolution be transmitted to the mayors of the several counties; and

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

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water and Land, Higher Education, and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 31, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 31, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water and Land, Higher Education, and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair	________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair
	________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair