STAND. COM. REP. NO. 434

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 844

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.B. No. 844 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SPECIAL NUMBER PLATES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the issuance of special number plates to commemorate Malama Puuloa.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hui o Ho‘ohonua, Hawaii Bicycling League, and four individuals.

Your Committee finds that Keawalauopuuloa, also known as Puuloa or Pearl Harbor, is a place of cultural significance and now exemplifies the power of positive, community-led change. First settled around 400 A.D., Puuloa's ancient settlements near present-day Honouliuli, also known as West Loch, represent the first and oldest settlements on the island of Oahu. Puuloa was an abundant water resource that contained at least thirty loko ia, traditional Hawaiian fishponds, and loi kalo, patches of land for taro cultivation. Your Committee also finds that Puuloa's aquatic resources have been exposed and contaminated with harmful chemicals and materials such as mercury, PCBs, dioxins, pesticides, microplastics, and lead. Many toxins present in Puuloa persist in the environment for significant periods of time, bioaccumulating in the wildlife and plants in the surrounding areas.

Your Committee further finds that Hui o Ho‘ohonua, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization established in 2015, has a mission to restore Puuloa to abundance. Through a community-driven approach such as workdays, education, and partnerships with the community, Malama Puuloa focuses on rebuilding relationships between people and the land to heal impacted waters and land. To recognize Malama Puuloa's contributions to natural resource management, perpetuation of Native Hawaiian culture, and environmentalism, this measure authorizes the issuance of special number plates to recognize and honor Malama Puuloa.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 844, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 844, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts,

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CHRIS LEE, Chair