STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1564-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.C.R. No. 19

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 19 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO IMPLEMENT NATIVE PLANT SEEDING PROJECTS IN MILILANI MAUKA TO RESTORE THE ECOLOGICAL DAMAGE FROM THE NOVEMBER WILDFIRES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Department of Land and Natural Resources to implement a native plant seeding project on the lands impacted by the November 2023 wildfires in Mililani Mauka to protect the area from the threat of similar devastation in the future.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and one individual.

Your Committee finds that implementing native plant seeding projects is a proactive measure that addresses the urgent need for ecological restoration and wildfire risk mitigation. Your Committee further finds that seeding native plants in restoration efforts enhances the ecosystem's resilience against future wildfires, supports the recovery of endangered and threatened species by providing them with their natural habitat, and preserves the biodiversity that is crucial for maintaining ecological balance.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Urging the Department of Land and Natural Resources to work with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to implement the native plant seeding project;

(2) Amending its title to reflect its modified scope;

(3) Adding the Fish and Wildlife Administrators and Project Leader of the Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as recipients of certified copies of this measure; and

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

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. 19, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 19, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair