STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2643

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2023

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2023 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAWAIIAN FISHPONDS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to utilize the current state-of-the-art knowledge in marine finfish hatchery production to establish a functional system to provide pua ama and pua awa to stock loko ia.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from Food+ Policy Internship 2022, Kua‘āina Ulu ‘Auamo, and two individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committees find that loko ia (Hawaiian fishponds) are part of advanced food systems that optimize natural watersheds, nutrient cycles, and fish biology and represent one of the world's most significant and successful aquacultural achievements. The dramatic decline in the number of loko ia and the average yield of those remaining are attributed to various factors including competition from cheaper imported products, money replacing barter as the standards of exchange, population movement from rural to urban areas, loss of traditional loko ia management skills, and the availability of alternative sources of employment.

Additionally, forces of nature, such as lava flows, tsunami and sea storms, land erosion, vegetation encroachment, and eutrophication have contributed to the destruction of Hawaiian loko ia. The historic loss of loko ia played a tragic role in furthering food inequity in Hawaii and points to the need to reinvigorate efforts to get ponds in operation.

Presently, hatchery production is the best option to restore loko ia productivity and access to hatchery-raised pua has been identified as a pivotal need. State and federal funded research between the 1970s and 1980s examined hatchery production of amaama and demonstrated successful maturation, spawning, and rearing of amaama through larval stage. Similar success with awa showed the potential role hatchery-raised pua could have for restocking efforts. Prioritizing loko ia restoration and revitalization is an active step towards improving food systems and reducing hunger and increasing responsible consumption and production patterns. Restoration addresses the food security challenges of being an isolated island community.

Your Committees have heard concerns from the Department of Land and Natural Resources regarding appropriations for loko ia. This measure, as drafted, does not contain appropriation language that will allow the Department of Land and Natural Resources to expand and develop its knowledge and practices of marine finfish hatchery production to address the decline of loko ia. To address the concerns of the Department, your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting a blank appropriation for the hiring of staff or contractors with expertise in finfish hatchery production, purchasing of equipment and supplies, and training workshops for loko ia across the State and by the Department of Land and Natural Resources;

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2023, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2023, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair