THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

198

THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

Requesting that the Department of education, Hawaii High School Athletic Association, Big Island Interscholastic Federation, Oahu Interscholastic ASSOCIATION, Interscholastic League of Honolulu, Maui Interscholastic League, and Kauai Interscholastic Federation create a plan to implement bass fishing as a sanctioned high school sport.

 

 


     WHEREAS, bass fishing is a popular sport in the United States; and

 

     WHEREAS, high school fishing is one of the fastest-growing sports in the nation; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State has an existing population of largemouth bass fish for which the Department of Land and Natural Resources issues fishing licenses; and

 

     WHEREAS, nationally, bass fishing supports more than 828,000 jobs and generates more than $48,000,000 annually in retail sales; and

 

     WHEREAS, bass fishing is recognized as a high school sport in Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, Texas, and Vermont; and

 

WHEREAS, there are multiple local, national, and international organizations that promote bass fishing tournaments, including the Hawaii Freshwater Fishing Association, the Bass Federation, and Fishing League Worldwide that can provide guidance for the implementation of bass fishing as a high school sport; and

 

WHEREAS, local bass fishing led to the launch of the Let's Go Fishing show in 1969 and has been featured on the popular Animal Planet show, Top Hooker, in 2017; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii has an established history with bass fish beginning with the first observation on the island of Hawaii in 1856, followed by observations on Oahu, Maui, and Kauai in 1897; and

 

WHEREAS, a Kauai Economic Development Board survey compiled in 2000 reported that anglers rated Hawaii as the second most popular destination to visit for freshwater fishing; and

 

     WHEREAS, Oahu has a pre-established bass hatchery located at Wahiawa Middle School, which is supplied by the Department of Agriculture's Division of Aquatic Resources; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Division of Aquatic Resources receives federal funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services' Sport Fish Restoration Program fund; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Sport Fish Restoration Program provides grants to the states for fishery projects, boating access, and aquatic education to ensure the continuation of sport fish opportunities, including freshwater sportfish; and

 

     WHEREAS, high school sports instill a sense of pride and belonging in students, gives students a reason to attain academic achievement, and provides a competitive outlet for our keiki; and

 

     WHEREAS, accredited colleges and universities offer partial and full scholarships for members of collegiate bass fishing teams; and

 

WHEREAS, the State and the people of Hawaii would benefit from increased awareness of this traditional sport; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2021, that the Department of Education, Hawaii High School Athletic Association, Big Island Interscholastic Federation, Oahu Interscholastic Association, Interscholastic League of Honolulu, Maui Interscholastic League, and Kauai Interscholastic Federation are requested to create a plan with clear goals to establish bass fishing as a sanctioned high school sport by January 1, 2022; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii High School Athletic Association is requested to provide a report of its progress, findings, and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the Regular Session of 2022; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Education, Superintendent of Education, Executive Director of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association, Executive Director of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation, Executive Director of the Oahu Interscholastic Association, Executive Director of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, Executive Director of the Maui Interscholastic League, and Executive Director of the Kauai Interscholastic Federation.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Bass Fishing; Sport; HHSAA; OIA; ILH; BIIF; MIL; KIF