STAND. COM. REP. NO. 371

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1602

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 S.B. No. 1602 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE KEAUHOU AQUIFER SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Appropriate funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources to install two monitoring wells in the Keauhou Aquifer System; and

(2) Establish the Keauhou Aquifer System Monitoring Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority, Department of Water Supply of the County of Hawaiʻi, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the Keauhou Aquifer System is a vital water source that sustains local communities, ecosystems, and cultural practices. However, the System faces ongoing challenges, including increasing water demand and concerns over potential resource overuse. Accordingly, this measure requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Commission on Water Resource Management to monitor the Keauhou Aquifer System to ensure that groundwater levels and water quality are sufficient.

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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1602 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair