STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3472

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 47

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Energy and Environment and Agriculture, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 47 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO TAKE ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS TO PROTECT OHIA AND OTHER MYRTACEAE FAMILY PLANTS FROM THE DESTRUCTIVE RUST FUNGUS, PUCCINIA PSIDII,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and United States Department of Agriculture to take administrative actions to protect ōhia and other Myrtaceae family plants from the destructive rust fungus, Puccinia psidii.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, The Nature Conservancy, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association, and Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species.

     Your Committees find that approximately eighty percent of the native forest in Hawaii is comprised of ōhia, which is an ecologically, culturally, and economically important plant species.  Although the single, distinct strain of Puccinia psidii established in Hawaii has not severely affected ōhia, scientific analysis has shown that other strains of Puccinia psidii known to exist in other locations can have a particularly virulent impact on ōhia plants.  A recent economic analysis revealed that the local Eucalyptus industry and nursery industry in Hawaii could be substantially damaged by the introduction of additional Puccinia psidii strains.  If even one more genetic strain reaches Hawaii, the results could be devastating to the structure, composition, and function of native forests as well as to the horticultural and agricultural industries that involve Myrtaceae plants.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Environment and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 47, and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Environment and Agriculture,

____________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair

____________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair