STAND. COM. REP. NO. 364-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1179

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1179 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for a pilot program within the Aina Mauna Legacy Program of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to remove and harvest gorse from Mauna Kea and develop it as a marketable product to expand economic opportunities for native Hawaiians.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Makahanaloa Fishing Association; Akamai Working Group, LLC; Symbrosia Inc.; Bergknut Consulting Service; Hui Ho‘olako for Hawaiian Initiatives; Earth Balancing, Inc.; and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that gorse is an invasive species that is very difficult to eradicate and detrimental in native habitats. Your Committee further finds that the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands' Aina Mauna Legacy Program is the guiding framework for well-coordinated management for long-term protection and perpetuation of the Aina Mauna ecosystem in the Humuulu-Piihonua area located on the northeast slopes of Mauna Kea. This measure is intended to address the significant need for greater economic opportunities for native Hawaiians by supporting the collection and product development of gorse from Mauna Kea.

Your Committee has amended this carryover measure by updating certain dates for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider appropriating $500,000 for the establishment of the pilot program.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1179, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1179, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair