STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3689

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2218

H.D. 2

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2218, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to respond to structural limitations that prevent the Department of Land and Natural Resources from forming meaningful, long-term partnerships with community organizations that are essential to the stewardship, education, and care of public lands.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Authorizes the Department to enter into community co‑management agreements;

(2) Establishes qualifications for eligible community co‑managers; and

(3) Authorizes the disposition of public lands by a community co-management agreement.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; University of Hawaii; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; County of Kauai; Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition and Climate Protectors Hawaii; Ocean Legislative Task Force; Sierra Club of Hawaii; Kuaaina Ulu Auamo; Free Access Coalition; Alii Pauahi Hawaiian Civic Club; Hawaii State Youth Commission; Malama Kauai; Green Party of Hawaii; Care for Aina Now Coalition LC; The Nature Conservancy; Kupuna for the Moopuna; Hawaii Land Trust; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii; WOCAN; Kalanihale; KAEHU; Hawaii Food+ Policy; Kipahulu Ohana, Inc.; Hawaii Conservation Alliance Foundation; Hawaii Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development; Hui Makaainana o Makana; Trust for Public Land; Hawaii Farmers Union; Shimanchu Mamuyaa; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that the State alone cannot sustainably manage Hawaii's public trust resources. The State relies on collaborative efforts with place-based Native Hawaiian communities and other local communities that provide essential stewardship, capacity, and local knowledge. Your Committee further finds that community co-management agreements offer a long-term, secure, and flexible framework that protects public trust resources, strengthens relationships between the State and community partners, and supports collaborative malama aina principles.

Your Committee has amended this measure to:

(1) Clarify that community co-management agreements may be used for the management of parking, visitor activities, and public and recreational parks in conjunction with malama aina-focused principles; and

(2) Make technical, nonsubstantive edits for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2218, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2218, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair