STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1264

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1487

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1487, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a Honolulu shoreline climate protection pilot project to develop a plan to protect urban Honolulu from the impacts of climate change and be used as a model for the entire State.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Pacific Resource Partnership, IMUAlliance, Sierra Club of Hawai‘i, The Trust for Public Land, Surfrider Foundation, Hawaii Bicycling League, and twenty-one individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Office of Planning; City and County of Honolulu Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency; Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters; and Lei of Parks.

Your Committees find that, due to climate change, Hawaii has seen over one-half foot of sea level rise in recent decades, and Honolulu is expected to begin seeing regular flooding of the urban core within fifteen years. Climate change and warming seas are also causing Hawaii to see more hurricanes of increasing intensity than before.

Your Committees further find that a comprehensive shoreline protection pilot project can create a shoreline buffer and reduce the risk of coastal disaster events as well as catalyze other projects to address inland inundation. Your Committees also find that a comprehensive shoreline climate protection pilot project can serve as a model for new ways to engage neighborhoods and allow residents opportunities to expand park space, redevelop the urban landscape, and add amenities to enrich their communities.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Replacing the term "low-lying topography" with "sea level rise exposure area maps, as officially adopted by the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission" to further clarify landscape designations;

(2) Requiring, instead of authorizing, the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission to partner with the City and County of Honolulu in designing a plan for the coastal protection of urban Honolulu;

(3) Inserting an appropriation amount of $2,000,000 to develop the Honolulu shoreline climate protection pilot project;

(4) Making it effective on July 1, 2019; 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 Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1487, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1487, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________ KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair