STAND. COM. REP. NO. 457-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2047

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 2047 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE AHA MOKU ADVISORY COMMITTEE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Amend the process for the hiring of the Executive Director of the Aha Moku Advisory Committee;

(2) Specify that the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources is responsible for the appointment, oversight, and administrative authority over the Executive Director of the Aha Moku Advisory Committee;

(3) Require any formal position, recommendation, or advisory action of the Aha Moku Advisory Committee to be adopted at a duly noticed public meeting at which a quorum is present; and

(4) Amend the reporting requirements of the Aha Moku Advisory Council.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; Hoʻāla Kealakekua Nui, Inc.; CARES; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii State Aha Moku; Koʻolau Foundation; Koʻolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the Aha Moku Advisory Committee is an organization that is increasingly vital to the State's management of the public lands to which it is entrusted. Your Committee further finds that this measure provides stronger structural support, establishes clearer accountability and transparency standards, and sets consistent reporting requirements for the Aha Moku Advisory Committee.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, should it deliberate on this measure, to examine the issue of where the position of Executive Director of the Aha Moku Advisory Committee should be housed administratively.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2047, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2047, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair