STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1933

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 80

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 80 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION DESIGNATING HAWAII'S CORAL REEFS AS CRITICAL NATURAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND STRONGLY SUPPORTING NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS SUCH AS CORAL REEF RESTORATION FOR RISK REDUCTION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to designate Hawaii's coral reefs as critical natural infrastructure and strongly support nature-based solutions such as coral reef restoration for risk reduction.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; The Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘i and Palmyra; Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition; Hawaii Fisherman's Alliance for Conservation and Tradition, Inc.; Kua‘aina Ulu Auamo; and six individuals.

Your Committees find that healthy, effectively managed, and functioning coral reefs can help mitigate the risks and related loss and damage from floods, the effects of climate change, and natural disasters. However, coral reefs are being lost at alarming rates and threatened by global stressors related to climate change, such as sea level rise, coral bleaching, and ocean acidification; and by local stressors from land-based sources of pollution, unsustainable fishing practices, and invasive species. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is responsible for responding to natural disasters and providing technical and financial hazard mitigation support, which is primarily distributed as grant funding through FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Assistance programs. Legislative recognition of coral reefs as critical natural infrastructure demonstrates political support for nature-based solutions, and the level of a State's political support is an important metric when FEMA directs activities and funding toward coral reef restoration for risk reduction projects. This measure recognizes the State's coral reefs as critical natural infrastructure to be eligible for important funding to protect coral reefs.

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 concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 80, and recommend its adoption.

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