STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1730

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 345

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 345, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE SHRIMP,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the ʻōpae ʻula as the state shrimp to protect anchialine pool ecosystems throughout the State.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Kuaʻaina Ulu ʻAuamo, Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition, Keepers of Kalahuipuaʻa, Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund, and six individuals.

Your Committees find that anchialine pools are culturally sacred, ecologically significant aquatic ecosystems which form when fresh and seawater mix underground and rise up through cracks in lava near the coast-line forming an enclosed body of water. Anchialine pools were historically a vital source of water and sustenance to Native Hawaiians and are now central to the revival of many traditional practices. The health of anchialine pools is often indicated by the population of ʻopae ʻula, a native shrimp species. Accordingly, this measure designates the ʻopae ʻula as the state shrimp to raise awareness of and support efforts to protect anchialine pools as a valuable limited natural resource.

Your Committees have amended this measure by inserting an effective date of June 6, 2944, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 345, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 345, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair