STAND. COM. REP. NO. 709

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 1136

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water & Land and Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 1136 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII INSTITUTE OF MARINE BIOLOGY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriate bond funds to repair and replace the sewer system and repair the seawall and pier, which are critical to prevent damage to rare coral and water systems, and to continue operations at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology facility at Moku o Lo‘e (Coconut Island).

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Aha Moku, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai‘i System, Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition, He‘eia National Estuarine Research Reserve, Koolau Foundation, and numerous individuals.

Your Committees find that the facility at Moku o Lo‘e is a world-renowned institute in Kaneohe Bay that welcomes communities and students to participate in place-based science and indigenous resource management approaches. This measure ensures the upkeep and maintenance of Moku o Lo‘e that is critical to the continuance of learning and advanced research.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriations to unspecified amounts;

(2) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committees respectfully request your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $10,000,000 for sewage system repair and replacement and $2,000,000 for the plan and design of seawall and pier repairs and replacement at Moku o Lo‘e.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water & Land and Higher Education & Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1136, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1136, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water & Land and Higher Education & Technology,

____________________________ AMY A. PERRUSO, Chair

____________________________ LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair