STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1028-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.C.R. No. 17

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water & Land and Agriculture, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 17 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP A FERAL UNGULATE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR WEST HAWAII,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Land and Natural Resources to convene a task force to develop a feral ungulate management plan for West Hawaii island and to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2024.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Hawai‘i Forest Industry Association; Big Island Invasive Species Committee; Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund; Hui Aloha Kīholo; and three individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committees find that the populations of feral goats and pigs in West Hawaii island have increased to sizes that cannot be sustained by the environment and that the overpopulation of feral ungulates in West Hawaii causes damage to agriculture, the environment, businesses, cultural sites, and residential areas and creates major hazards on roadways. This measure seeks to address the rapid population growth of feral ungulates in West Hawaii in an inclusive manner, inviting a wide variety of stakeholders to the table in hopes of arriving at a comprehensive solution.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water & Land and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 17 and recommend that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________ MARK J. HASHEM, Chair

____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair