HR225

WHEREAS, reefs around the world are suffering from pollution, coral bleaching, trawling, and trophic imbalance in the natural system; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii has over 7,000 reef species, over 1,000 of which are found nowhere else; and

WHEREAS, reef-based tourism generates $1 billion annually for the people of Hawaii and commensurate tax revenues for the State of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, revenues from snorkeling, diving, fishing, and tourism industries depend on healthy reefs; and

WHEREAS, 2008 will be the International Year of the Reef, and the eyes of the world will be on locations that have reefs; and

WHEREAS, several species of reef fish, such as angel fish, butterfly fish, moray eel, anthius, and Hawaiian turkeyfish, are now listed by the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Aquatic Resources as "species of concern," because of their continuing population decline; and

WHEREAS, more than 10 million reef fish are exported each year; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii state motto is "Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono," which is translated to mean, "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness"; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, that this body supports and calls attention to the designation of 2008 as the International Year of the Reef; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this body reinforces Hawaii's commitment to the protection of our reefs as a fundamental commitment at the core of our culture; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this body recognizes that maintaining the health of Hawaii's unique coral reef system is a moral obligation to the rest of the world that we accept with honor and humility; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force and the Director of Land and Natural Resources.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

2008 International Year of the Reef

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	225
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII