STAND. COM. REP. NO. 589-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2101

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 2101 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL AQUARIUM COLLECTION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit the harvest of aquatic life from state marine waters for commercial aquarium purposes.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Hawaii State Aha Moku; two members of the Hawaiʻi County Council; one member of the Maui County Council; Friends of Hanauma Bay; Huli PAC; Big Island Reef Keepers Hui; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition; Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi; Kuaʻāina Ula ʻAuamo; Kihei Community Association; Hui Hoomalu i ka Aina; Koʻolau Foundation; Activities and Attractions Association of Hawaiʻi; Hoala Kealakekua Nui Inc.; Earthjustice; Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs; Hui Aloha Kīholo; Hoʻāla Kealakekua Nui, Inc.; Big Island Aviation, LLC; For the Fishes; Center for Biodiversity; Kai Palaoa; Fair Wind Cruises; Surfrider Foundation, Hawaiʻi Region; Legacy Reef Foundation; Haereticus Environmental Laboratory; Ocean Defenders Alliance; Ocean Preservation Society, Hawaiʻi; Biota Group; Puakō For Reefs; Moana ʻOhana; Hui Kahuwai; Keiko Conservation; Ocean Janitors Hawaii; Kalanihale; Animal Rights Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Ocean Legislative Task Force; Heʻeia National Estuarine Research Reserve; Conservation Council for Hawaiʻi; Hawaiian Humane Society; The Nature Conservancy- Hawaiʻi and Palmyra; Kiaʻi Kanaloa; Free Access Coalition; Koʻolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club; Kohola Coffee; Ocean Era, Inc.; Shimanchu Mamuyaa; and numerous individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Native Hawaiian Gathering Rights Association and numerous individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committees find that the capture and sale of Hawaii's aquatic life for commercial aquarium purposes is contrary to Hawaiian values that emphasize land and ocean stewardship. Your Committees further find that maintaining the populations of aquatic life present in Hawaii's ocean ecosystems serves an essential environmental purpose, as abundant populations of reef wildlife can bolster reef resiliency against the effects of climate change and offset ocean heat waves and changes in ocean acidity. This measure seeks to promote environmental resiliency and ocean stewardship by prohibiting the harvest of aquatic life for commercial aquarium purposes.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Limiting the prohibition to counties with a population greater than 200,000 and less than 300,000;

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

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water & Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2101, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2101, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________ MARK J. HASHEM, Chair

____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair