STAND. COM. REP. NO. 294

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 309

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 309, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FISHPONDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a working group within the University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant Program to develop an inventory of state-owned fishponds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Agriculture; University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program; Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission; Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui; Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo; Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action; Kauai Climate Action Coalition; Malama Kauaʻi; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; Historic Hawaiʻi Foundation; Hawaiʻi Ocean Legislative Task Force; Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; Pacific Whale Foundation; Mālama Paʻakea o Waimalau; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that the University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant) has supported the restoration of loko iʻa and the perpetuation of loko iʻa practice for decades as part of its mission to improve understanding and stewardship of coastal and marine resources. Your Committee further finds that the Hawaiʻi Sea Grant's expertise and partnerships with the Department of Land and Natural Resources and other partners involved in the restoration, preservation, and perpetuation of Hawaiian fishponds will be of great value in developing an inventory of state-owned fishponds.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 309, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

____________________________

ANDREW TAKUYA GARRETT, Chair