STAND. COM. REP. NO. 337-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2103

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. 2103 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE LAND USE COMMISSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Amend the composition of the Land Use Commission to require at least one member who has substantial experience in water resource management and at least one member who has substantial experience or expertise in traditional Hawaiian land usage and knowledge of cultural land practices; and

(2) Require the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to submit a list of nominees to the Governor for the appointment of a commission member having substantial experience or expertise in traditional Hawaiian land usage and knowledge of cultural land practices.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Moanalua Gardens Foundation; Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi; Chamber of Sustainable Commerce; Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo; Kūpuna for the Moʻopuna; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Land Use Commission.

Your Committee finds that by requiring at least one Land Use Commissioner to have substantial experience in water management, this measure would fill the gap in the Land Use Commission's collective knowledge regarding water and help to ensure that approvals of potentially vast land use changes are appropriately tailored to balance and safeguard the range of public interests associated with water. Your Committee further finds that by requiring the Governor to fill a Land Use Commission seat from a list of nominees provided by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, this measure would assist the Governor in vetting and identifying individuals who may best be able to help the Land Use Commission understand and protect the rights of Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners.

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.

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. 2103, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2103, 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