STAND. COM. REP. NO. 615

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     S.B. No. 1403

        S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 1403 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MARINE LIFE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Require a total of forty-one permits to be issued for the Maui Molokini Shoal Marine Life Conservation District (MLCD); and

 

     (2)  Prohibit no more than twenty permitted vessels from being granted entry to the crater at any one time.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii; Ocean Tourism Coalition; Seabird Cruises, Inc.; Blue Water Rafting; Calypso Charters; PacWhale Eco‑Adventures; Trilogy Corporation dba Trilogy Excursions; Kai Kanani Sailing; Maui-Molokai Sea Cruises; Maui Classic Charters, Inc.; and eleven individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from The Nature Conservancy and three individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Department of the Attorney General.

 

     Your Committee finds that the Maui Molokini Shoal MLCD is an area about three miles off of Maui's southwestern coast containing the crescent shaped islet of Molokini.  Access is by boat only and there is no sand beach on Molokini.  The area includes the cove with sand patches, coral, and basaltic boulders on the bottom, and a shallow reef in less than thirty feet of water.  The diversity of fish and other marine life within the MLCD is among the most impressive in the State; even humpback whales have been known to enter the cove, making it a popular attraction for visitors.  As the popularity of the MLCD continues to increase, it is essential to set limits to ensure the sustainability and health of this precious resource for present and future generations.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Limiting the number of permits that shall be issued for the Maui Molokini Shoal Marine Life Conservation District to forty permits;

 

     (2)  Stipulating that twenty permitted vessels shall be granted entry to the crater at any one time;

 

     (3)  Inserting an effective date of December 31, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

 

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

 

     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. 1403, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1403, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair