STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1170-08

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

 

RE:   S.B. No. 2464

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2464 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE MAMMAL,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to designate the Hawaiian monk seal, one of only two mammals endemic to Hawaii, as the State mammal.

 

     The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Conservation Council for Hawaii, Hanalei Watershed Hui, and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this bill. 

 

     Your Committee finds that the Hawaiian monk seal is endangered and currently numbers only about 1,200.  This bill is necessary to raise awareness of and increase protection measures for the Hawaiian monk seal.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2464 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Tourism & Culture.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

KEN ITO, Chair