STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1466-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.C.R. No. 39

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 39 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE STATE AND CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO COLLABORATE ON MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL STREAM MAINTENANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the State and City and County of Honolulu to convene a working group to discuss multi-jurisdictional stream maintenance on O‘ahu, and to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2023.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Ko‘olau Foundation; and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that the division of jurisdictional responsibilities and property ownership complicates stream maintenance. The maintenance of streams is vital to preparing for extreme weather events and natural disasters. This measure seeks to address the jurisdictional challenges to stream maintenance on O‘ahu by convening stakeholders to collaborate in discussion of stream ownership and maintenance responsibilities.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 39 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair