STAND. COM. REP. NO. 545

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1146

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 Higher Education and Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 1146 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ALA WAI CANAL,"

beg leave to report as follows:

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

(1) Develop an action plan and pre-engineering concept plan to help with debris management and quality control issues in the Ala Wai watershed; and

(2) Establish two graduate assistant positions to assist with the action plan and pre-engineering concept plan.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, University of Hawaiʻi System, and numerous individuals.

Your Committees find that floating debris in the Ala Wai Canal has been a persistent problem, harming recreational users and the State's aquatic and nearshore habitats. Your Committees further find that restoration efforts generally occur on the makai side of the Ala Wai Canal. However, heavy rain events further inland cause debris from streams and tributaries to wash into the canal. Your Committees also find that the University of Hawaii possesses the expertise to assist the Division of Ocean and Boating Recreation of the Department of Land and Natural Resources with debris management and water quality control in the Ala Wai watershed. This measure appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii to develop plans to holistically address the challenges facing the Ala Wai Canal and watershed.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount; and

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 31, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1146, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1146, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Higher Education and Water and Land,

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

________________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair