STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2233

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.C.R. No. 113

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 Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 113 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO MINIMIZE HUMAN INTERACTION AT CERTAIN LOCATIONS DURING CORAL SPAWNING EVENTS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Department of Land and Natural Resources to determine priority locations around the State where minimizing human interaction immediately after cauliflower coral spawning may contribute to greater coral reef formation.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition, Friends of Hanauma Bay, Big Island Reef Keepers Hui, and five individuals.

Your Committees find that cauliflower coral is a major reef-building coral that protects Hawaii's shorelines and provides habitats for fish and crab. Your Committees further find that efforts in Kahuluu Bay and Waiakea Bay State Park to minimize human interference for several days after a spawning event have successfully increased the amount of juvenile corals in these areas. This measure requests the Department of Land and Natural Resources to expand on this success and take certain actions to support healthier coral reefs in Hawaii.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water & Land and Energy & Environmental Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 113 and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water & Land and Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair

____________________________ LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair