STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2413

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3094

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 3094 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 appropriate funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources for the operations of the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission and for two full-time equivalent positions on the Commission.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission, Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club, Ocean Tourism Coalition, and twenty-four individuals.

Your Committee finds that additional funding and personnel are needed to support the operations of the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission. The Commission was established by the Legislature in 1993 to address ecological and environmental damage caused to Kahoolawe by United States Navy live fire training exercises. The Legislature has previously recognized the significant cultural and historical importance of Kahoolawe to the native people of Hawaii. This measure will provide additional funding to the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission that is needed to support its efforts to restore the island, protect endangered and rare flora and fauna, and ensure the safety of visitors to the Kahoolawe island reserve.

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. 3094 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