STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1313

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 198

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.R. No. 198 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, HAWAII HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION, BIG ISLAND INTERSCHOLASTIC FEDERATION, OAHU INTERSCHOLASTIC ASSOCIATION, INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE OF HONOLULU, MAUI INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE, AND KAUAI INTERSCHOLASTIC FEDERATION CREATE A PLAN TO IMPLEMENT BASS FISHING AS A SANCTIONED HIGH SCHOOL SPORT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Education, Hawaii High School Athletic Association, Big Island Interscholastic Federation, Oahu Interscholastic Association, Interscholastic League of Hawaii, Maui Interscholastic League, and Kauai Interscholastic Federation to create a plan to implement bass fishing as a sanctioned high school sport.

Your Committee did not receive any testimony on this measure.

Your Committee finds that high school fishing is one of the fastest-growing sports in the nation. The State has an existing population of largemouth bass fish for which the Department of Land and Natural Resources issues fishing licenses. Hawaii has an established history with bass fish beginning with the first observation on the island of Hawaii in 1856, followed by observations on Oahu, Maui, and Kauai in 1897. Oahu has a pre-established bass hatchery located at Wahiawa Middle School, which is supplied by the Department of Agriculture's Division of Aquatic Resources. This measure would create a plan to establish bass fishing as a high school sport, which would instill a sense of pride and belonging in students, give students a reason to attain academic achievement, and provide a competitive outlet for our keiki.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 198 and recommends its adoption.

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

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MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair