STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1918

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 128

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 128, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REAFFIRMING THE STATE'S OBLIGATION TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF ITS PEOPLE BY RECOGNIZING THE CRITICAL ROLE OF FRESHWATER IN MAINTAINING HEALTHY NEARSHORE MARINE ECOSYSTEMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to reaffirm the State's obligation to uphold the constitutional rights of its people by recognizing the critical role of freshwater in maintaining healthy nearshore marine ecosystems.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi, Mālama Pūpūkea-Waimea, Marine Advocates Collaborating for Sustainable Aquatic Life through Actions & Discipline, Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo, Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that freshwater in the nearshore marine ecosystem is essential to the health and abundance of the State's nearshore waters. Your Committee further finds that certain alterations to freshwater sources damage nearshore marine habitats, causing coral bleaching, invasive algal blooms, loss of biodiversity, and loss of Native Hawaiian cultural resources. Your Committee also finds that it is imperative to protect and restore freshwater flows to ensure the perpetuation of traditional and customary Native Hawaiian practices and long-term health and resilience of the State's nearshore marine ecosystems. This measure will encourage the protection and restoration of freshwater flows to nearshore marine ecosystems.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 128, H.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

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

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair