STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1802-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.C.R. No. 61

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.C.R. No. 61 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO WORK WITH ITS PARTNERS TO INCREASE INVESTMENT IN POLICIES, INCENTIVES, WORKFORCE, AND NURSERY CAPACITY TO REFOREST HAWAII'S PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LANDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Department of Land and Natural Resources to work with its partners to increase investment in policies, incentives, workforce, and nursery capacity to reforest Hawaii's public and private lands.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawaiʻi Reforestation Policy Hui; and eight individuals.

Your Committee finds that the State urgently needs to invest in state and private nursery modernization to increase the supply of high-quality, clean native seedlings necessary for reforestation. Your Committee further finds that strengthening reforestation in Hawaii is vital to advancing Hawaii's goals of resilience, watershed protection, and ecosystem restoration.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 61 and recommends its adoption.

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

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair