STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3329

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2626

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water and Land and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2626, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FISHPONDS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to specify certain findings the Board of Land and Natural Resources must make for a lease of a government-owned Hawaiian fishpond.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui; Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo; Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action; Green Party Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; The Nature Conservancy; Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center; Hawaiʻi Fishermen's Alliance for Conservation and Tradition, Inc.; Hawaiʻi Land Trust; and forty-five individuals.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committees find that traditional Hawaiian fishponds, or loko iʻa, are culturally important and may be a potential solution to enhancing the food security of communities in Hawaii. This measure streamlines the process for the lease of government-owned fishponds, ensuring that traditional fishponds will be restored, cared for, and productive.

Your Committees have amended this measure by making it effective upon its approval.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water and Land and Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2626, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2626, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water and Land and Hawaiian Affairs,

________________________________ MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair