STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2356

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2154

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2154 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO A PILOT COMMUNITY CONSERVATION PROGRAM,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this Act is to create a pilot community conservation program, utilizing community partnerships, on the island of Maui.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Mayor of Maui, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and nineteen individuals.  Testimony in opposition was received from the Hawaii Building and Construction Trades Council.

 

     Your Committee finds that within the Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement of the Department of Land and Natural Resources (Division), there is a growing need to create meaningful and sustainable partnerships with communities in order to better manage and protect Hawaii's unique and treasured natural and cultural resources.

 

     Your Committee further finds that this need may be fulfilled through a community conservation program to educate ocean resource users on resource protection laws.  By doing so, it is anticipated that the number of resource violations may be reduced through outreach, increased enforcement presence, and community empowerment.

 

     Your Committee believes that by implementing a new operations model, the Division will better serve the cultural and environmental needs of the people of Hawaii, while protecting the natural resources of our island state.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2154 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair