STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1424

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 730

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 730, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FISHPONDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to support the Department of Land and Natural Resources in restoring and restocking fishponds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Kua‘āina Ulu ‘Auamo, Hawaii Food+ Policy, Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action, Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center, and seven individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Your Committee finds that fishponds were and continue to be essential components of sustainable food systems in Hawaii, providing food security and community resilience.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the Department of Land and Natural Resources to consult with relevant Native Hawaiian communities and organizations as it restores and restocks fishponds;

(2) Changing its effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) 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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 730, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 730, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair