STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2089

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                

 

RE:    S.R. No. 20

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.R. No. 20 entitled:

 

"SENATE RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO MANAGE THE WAI‘ANAE KAI FOREST AND RESTORE WATER FLOW IN WAI‘ANAE STREAMS FOR NATIVE HAWAIIAN TRADITIONAL AND CUSTOMARY PRACTICES AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WAI‘ANAE KAI WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS PLAN,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Department of Land and Natural Resources to properly manage and protect the Waianae Kai Forest.

 

     Specifically, the measure:

 

     (1)  Urges the Department of Land and Natural Resources to ensure water flow from certain streams in the Waianae Watershed for Native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices and to implement the Waianae Kai wildfire preparedness plan; and

 

     (2)  Requests the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Forestry and Wildlife to continue to manage the Waianae Kai Forest Reserve with native trees and shrubs and to restore forest areas damaged by the August 2018 fire with native trees and shrubs.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and one individual.

 

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

 

     Your Committee finds that this measure aligns with the State's constitutional obligations to benefit its people by protecting, controlling, and regulating Hawaii's water resources and holding in trust all public natural resources.  Your Committee further finds that this measure aims to improve security, education, and response capabilities through the implementation of the Waianae Kai wildfire preparedness plan.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 20 and recommends its adoption.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair