STAND. COM. REP. NO. 125

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 500

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 500 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Education to promote and support surfing as an interscholastic sport.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that surfing is of significant cultural, social, and economic value to the people of Hawaii, as well as the many visitors who travel to Hawaii for surfing. Your Committee especially recognizes the extraordinary accomplishments of Carissa Moore, a Palolo resident who won the gold medal in the first ever women's surfing competition in the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, and the many other Hawaii surfers who have dedicated themselves to honoring and preserving the sport and spirit of surfing in the State.

Your Committee notes that since surfing was sanctioned by the Department of Education in 2004, only one of five local athletic leagues have sponsored it. This measure appropriates funds to promote and support surfing as an interscholastic sport to provide opportunities for students to pursue competitive surfing in the future.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to June 30, 3000.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 500, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 500, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair