STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2614

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2296

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2296 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FISHPONDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to:

(1) Support the Department of Land and Natural Resources to restore and restock fishponds by procuring fingerlings and limu; and

(2) Establish one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) Aquaculture Coordinator Biologist VI position.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo, Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition, Hawaii Food+ Policy, Hulu Mamo Hawaiian Civic Club, and four individuals.

Your Committee finds that loko ia, or fishponds, play an important role in Hawaiian cultural practices, have an ecologically important role in watersheds, and could significantly contribute to the State's food security and goals. This measure will support ongoing efforts to restore the State's fishponds and make them more sustainable.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2296, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2296, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair