STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2231

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.C.R. No. 41

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water & Land and Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 41 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION DESIGNATING HAWAII'S CORAL REEFS AS CRITICAL NATURAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND STRONGLY SUPPORTING NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS SUCH AS CORAL REEF RESTORATION FOR RISK REDUCTION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to designate Hawaii's coral reefs as critical natural infrastructure and strongly support nature-based solutions, such as coral reef restoration, for risk reduction.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition; Friends of Hanauma Bay; The Nature Conservancy, Hawai‘i and Palmyra; Animal Rights Hawai‘i; Big Island Reef Keepers Hui; and eleven individuals.

Your Committees find that Hawaii's environmental resources include coral reefs, which can help mitigate the risks and related loss and damage from floods and the effects of climate change and natural disasters if the coral reefs are healthy, effectively managed, and functioning. Your Committees further find that the health of the State's coral reefs is threatened by global stressors related to climate change and by local stressors from land-based sources of pollution, unsustainable fishing practices, and invasive species. Designating Hawaii's coral reefs as critical natural infrastructure through this measure would demonstrate the Legislature's support for nature-based solutions to combat climate change impacts and increase the likelihood of the State receiving federal funding for coral reef protection and restoration.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water & Land and Energy & Environmental Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 41 and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water & Land and Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair

____________________________ LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair