STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3295

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1988

H.D. 2

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 Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1988, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CORAL,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Prohibit the sale, import, or export of certain coral products; and

(2) Require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to amend its administrative rules accordingly no later than December 31, 2022.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii State Aha Moku, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Hawaiian Black Coral, and six individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from For the Fishes, Conservation Council for Hawaii, Kai Palaoa, Moana Ohana, Sierra Club of Hawaii Moku Lua Group, Kalanihale, Friends of Hanauma Bay, Legacy Reef Foundation, Haereticus Environmental Laboratory, Hawaii Reef & Ocean Coalition, Fair Wind Charters, Ocean Defenders Alliance-Hawaii, and one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Center for Biological Diversity and Big Island Reef Keepers Hui.

Your Committees find that Hawaii's coral reefs are essential to the State's marine ecosystems and are home to many species found nowhere else in the world. However, the commercial use of coral from the reefs contributes to their decline and degradation. It is critical for the State to protect Hawaii's coral reefs as a source of marine biodiversity. This measure prohibits the sale, import, and export of certain coral products to preserve the health of Hawaii's coral reefs.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Prohibiting the harvesting of coral, except under certain conditions;

(2) Restricting exemptions for state and federal permitted harvesting to non-commercial purposes;

(3) Extending the deadline for the Department of Land and Natural Resources to amend its administrative rules to December 31, 2024; and

(4) 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 Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1988, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1988, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

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

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair