STAND. COM. REP. NO. 4055

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 36

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Higher Education and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 36 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO WORK WITH THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION AND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CREATE A CORAL REEF ADVISORY TEAM OF YOUTH,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the University of Hawaii to work with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Department of Education to create a Coral Reef Advisory Team of Youth.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, University of Hawai‘i System, Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition, Friends of Hanauma Bay, and three individuals.

Your Committees find that coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, with about twenty-five percent of the ocean's fish dependent on healthy coral reefs. Coral reefs additionally protect coastlines from storms and erosion, provide a source of food and new medicines, and offer opportunities for recreation. Your Committees note that Hawaii's coral reefs account for about eighty-five percent of all coral reefs in the United States, and the Northwestern Hawaiian Island coral reefs, which are part of the Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Monument, provide an example of the diversity of life associated with shallow-water reef ecosystems, supporting more than seven thousand species of fishes, invertebrates, plants, sea turtles, birds, and marine mammals.

Your Committees further find that the threat of climate change continues to impact coral reefs worldwide, including Hawaii's unique coral reef ecosystem, as increased temperature stress leads to coral bleaching, a phenomenon that causes coral to lose the algal symbionts living within their cells. While corals are able to recover from bleaching events under improving conditions, full recovery of coral reefs can take many years for ecosystems to fully heal. Implementing educational initiatives will allow more youth to understand the importance of coral reefs and ecosystem restoration, which are critical to Hawaii's marine life.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 36, and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Higher Education and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair