STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3593

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 94

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.R. No. 94 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION CONVENING A WORKING GROUP TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ESTABLISHING AND STRUCTURING A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE TO SUPPORT SANCTUARIES AND OTHER CONSERVATION-RELATED INITIATIVES FOR ENDANGERED AND OTHER SPECIES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to convene a working group to develop recommendations for establishing and structuring a nonprofit organization recognized by the State to support sanctuaries and other conservation-related initiatives for endangered and other species.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and one individual.

Your Committees find that the State contains a greater number of endangered species compared to most other states in the nation, including many indigenous birds found only in the State. While the State has made progress in mitigating the causes of extinction, existing efforts require supplementation to prevent further loss of biodiversity. Your Committees believe that successful sanctuaries in other jurisdictions, many of which have flexible and innovative frameworks that leverage fundraising and community engagement, may act as templates for the establishment of local sanctuaries and programs. This measure will help reverse the decline in biodiversity in the State and generate local opportunities for revenue and research.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting findings specifying that the Legislature has moved to consider the establishment of sanctuaries for endangered and other species as contemplated by S.B. 3253, S.D. 2, H.D. 1 (2026), and a working group is needed to stand up the accompanying governance organization that would conduct the sanctuary work;

(2) Clarifying that the purpose of the working group convened by this measure is to establish a nonprofit organization recognized by the State to support sanctuaries and other conservation-related initiatives for endangered and other species;

(3) Specifying that the working group convened by this measure is requested to be chaired by the Chair of the Senate Standing Committee with primary jurisdiction over water and land;

(4) Amending its title accordingly; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 94, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 94, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water, Land, Culture and the Arts and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair