STAND. COM. REP. NO. 522

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1559

S.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 Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 1559 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DUNE RESTORATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program to partner with the County of Maui in dune restoration at Hanakaoo Beach Park.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program, Maui Nui Resiliency Hui, Surfrider Foundation Hawaiʻi Region, Lāhainā Strong, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that dune restoration is a nature-based, low-impact solution to the effects of climate change that balances environmental sustainability with cultural and recreational needs. Your Committee further finds that to be effective, the caretakers of Hanakaoo Beach Park require technical guidance and assistance in using the tools of dune restoration to create a productive dune habitat and restore dunes and ecosystem services. This measure supports dune restoration efforts at Hanakaoo Beach Park to mitigate the effects of climate change while ensuring that the beach park may be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike for years to come.

Your Committee notes the suggestion of the Department of Land and Natural Resources that it may be a more fiscally efficient approach to appropriate the funds directly to the County of Maui and allow them to seek expert advice from the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program, as needed. Your Committee also notes the concern raised by the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program that confirmation from the Department of Parks and Recreation of the County of Maui is needed to verify that dune restoration is an effort aligned with its priorities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

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

(3) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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 S.B. No. 1559, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1559, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair