STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3244

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1577

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water and Land and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1577, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE KAHO‘OLAWE ISLAND RESERVE COMMISSION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Appropriate funds for the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission; and

(2) Fund two full-time equivalent positions for the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission, County of Maui Planning Department, one member of the Maui County Council, Pacific American Foundation, and Ke Kai O Kuloloi‘a, and twenty-one individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Center for Hawaiian Sovereignty Studies. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committees find that the island of Kahoolawe provides cultural and historic significance to the people of Hawaii, including Native Hawaiians. Following the conclusion of the United States Navy's unexploded ordnance cleanup in 2004, the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission has undertaken a significant task to stem erosion and further degradation of the Kahoolawe Island Reserve. Numerous restoration projects of the Kahoolawe Island Reserve, financed by state funds and various grant opportunities, have made significant changes toward transforming the desolate hardpan into vibrant living landscapes.

Despite the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission's work to restore Kahoolawe and its natural resources, the Commission is experiencing budgetary constraints that limit its ability to carry out its efforts. While the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission has a strong volunteer workforce to assist with native out plantings, erosion control construction, and invasive weed eradication, the lack of permanent full-time equivalent positions to assist with the Commission's mission has created more challenges to restoration of Kahoolawe. Recent unpredictable and severe weather events and ocean conditions have halted volunteer participation in restoration projects. As the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission relies on its strong volunteer force to expand restoration efforts to create more native dryland forest habitats, expanded beach restoration, shoreline protection efforts, food sustainability, and on-island water generation, this measure appropriates funds to the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission to continue its mission and restorative efforts of Kahoolawe.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2022; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water and Land and Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1577, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1577, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water and Land and Hawaiian Affairs,

________________________________ MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair