STAND. COM. REP. NO.  94-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 2552

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2552 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO OCEAN RESOURCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to direct the Department of Land and Natural Resources to conduct a study of Pohoiki Bay on Hawaii Island to resolve the conflicts between commercial boat tours and fishers that use the bay.

Two individuals provided testimony in support of this measure.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources and Aha Moku Advisory Committee provided comments on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Specifying that the study conducted by the Department shall evaluate matters relevant to resolving the conflict among Native Hawaiians exercising gathering and subsistence rights, recreational users, and commercial tour boats and fishers that use Pohoiki Bay;

     (2)  Requiring the Department to fund an enforcement officer position for the Pohoiki Bay area from royalties received from geothermal mining leases; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     Your Committee notes that the Department has stated that it is considering creating a safe swimming area for persons to safely use an area of Pohoiki Bay.  Your Committee respectfully requests that subsequent committees consider making sufficient funds available to the Department for the purpose of establishing the safe swimming area.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2552, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2552, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Water & Land.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

FAYE P. HANOHANO, Chair