STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1224

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 455

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 455, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE KAHOOLAWE ISLAND RESERVE COMMISSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources for the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission to effectively meet the unique challenges of restoring, preserving, and determining the appropriate uses of the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve for the people of Hawaii and for two positions for the Commission.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission, Aha Moku Advisory Committee, County of Maui, Ocean Tourism Coalition, and fourteen individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Center for Hawaiian Sovereignty Studies.

Your Committee finds that extensive erosion and other ecological problems and the presence of unexploded ordnance, archaeological and other cultural and historic sites, and native and endangered flora and fauna necessitated a new management regime to effectively meet the unique challenges of restoring, preserving, and determining the appropriate use of Kaho‘olawe. As a result, management and control of Kaho‘olawe was transferred to the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission in 2004, with funding from federal and state sources; however, funding has run low in recent years. Your Committee further finds that the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission is not only restoring the ecological damage on Kaho‘olawe and protecting its endangered and rare flora and fauna, it is also ensuring that the people of Hawaii who access the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve can do so meaningfully and safely. Therefore, your Committee finds it necessary to provide adequate funding for the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission.

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 H.B. No. 455, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair