STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1569-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.C.R. No. 79

H.D. 1

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. 79 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT A WORKING GROUP BE CONVENED TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO PREVENT THE RE-OCCURRENCE OF WILDFIRES ON WAAHILA RIDGE NEAR THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request that a working group be convened to make recommendations to prevent the re-occurrence of wildfires on Wa‘ahila Ridge and to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2023.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Wa‘ahila Ridge is highly vulnerable to wildfires due to a variety of environmental conditions and land management characteristics. Within the last decade, there have been four wildfires on the ridge, with the most recent one burning over fifty acres. The findings of this working group could also prove applicable to other Counties and jurisdictions that are susceptible to wildfires.

Your Committee has amended this measure by adding, as members of the working group:

(1) The President of the University of Hawai‘i, or the

President’s designee;

(2) The Chairperson of the City and County of Honolulu Board of Water Supply Board of Directors, or the Chair's designee;

(3) The Fire Chief of the Honolulu Fire Department, or the Fire Chief's designee;

(4) The Director of Human Services, or the Director's designee; and

(5) A representative of public recreational advocacy interests.

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. 79, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 79, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair