STAND. COM. REP. NO. 97-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2490

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. 2490 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COASTAL RESILIENCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a five-year pilot program to implement comprehensive coastal resilience measures for Mantokuji Bay on Maui that use streamlined regulatory processes while maintaining environmental and cultural protections, which may later be used to inform future statewide policy for protecting threatened coastal areas.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui; one member of the Maui County Council; Paia Mantokuji Soto Zen Mission; Oceanit Laboratories, Inc.; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Office of Planning and Sustainable Development.

Your Committee recognizes the importance of the proper stewardship of Hawaii's valuable natural and cultural resources. Your Committee finds that the pilot program in this measure presents a significant opportunity to demonstrate how comprehensive coastal-resilience efforts can simultaneously protect cultural sites, infrastructure, and natural systems.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Allowing, rather than requiring, the pilot program to be exempt from state laws governing conservation districts, coastal zone management, and environmental review; county ordinances regulating shoreline setback and variance requirements; and county building permit requirements specifically related to coastal resilience structures;

(2) Changing its 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 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. 2490, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2490, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Economic Development & Technology.

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

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair