STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1012

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 55

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 55 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO ADOPT ADMINISTRATIVE RULES TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS FOR ALLOWING TRADITIONAL HAWAIIAN FARMING SYSTEMS ON CONSERVATION LANDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Department of Land and Natural Resources to adopt administrative rules to streamline the process for allowing traditional Hawaiian farming systems on conservation lands.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Aha Moku Advisory Committee, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that traditional farming systems play a critical role in Hawaii and should be encouraged to promote greater self-sufficiency, crop diversity, and food security. Supporting these farming systems is critical towards helping the State achieve food security and increasing the domestic production of a local food supply. Currently, Native Hawaiian bona fide farmers face challenges in perpetuating traditional Hawaiian farming systems and practices in conservation districts that have sustained our islands since time immemorial. The rules contemplated in this measure, if appropriately tailored, would help to facilitate ecologically compatible and environmentally sustainable traditional Native Hawaiian farming practices and approaches, thereby furthering the State's interest in food self-sufficiency, cultural perpetuation, and economic diversification.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding a clause to acknowledge that each petitioner for use of conservation lands should have a generational and traditional kupaaina of the land they are farming or consult with native peoples of that specific ahupuaa to ensure that the crop is compatible with the ecosystem of that place; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 55, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 55, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Hawaiian Affairs,

________________________________

MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair