STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3671

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 196

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.R. No. 196 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS TO RECAPTURE, RETAIN, AND SHARE THE CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL KNOWLEDGE OF LIMU KALA,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Department of Land and Natural Resources to develop programs to recapture, retain, and share the cultural and environmental knowledge of limu kala.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Kua‘āina Ulu ‘Auamo, Malama Pūpūkea-Waimea, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that limu is an important component of a healthy and productive reef ecosystem; the base of the marine food chain; a key indicator of the health and resilience of an ahupuaa; and a critical part of many marine life habitats, especially limu kala. Four endemic species are currently found in Hawaii: S. echniocarpum, S. hawaiiensis, S. obtusifolium, and S. polyphyllum. Limu kala is a seasonally abundant and commonly found in many intertidal and subtidal habitats, including tidepools and reef flats in areas with moderate to high wave action. Limu is used as a vitamin-, mineral-, and fiber-rich food source, in traditional medicine, and cultural ceremonies. Your Committee further finds that much of limu-based cultural knowledge has been lost over many generations due to a lack of understanding and awareness of the significance of limu. This lack of knowledge hinders work and efforts to increase the State's population of nearshore fish. Learning, retaining, and sharing cultural and environmental knowledge about limu will benefit nearshore fisheries and all residents of the State for many generations.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 196 and recommends its adoption.

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

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair