STAND. COM. REP. NO.  599

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2023

 

RE:   H.B. No. 819

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Culture, Arts & International Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 819 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LIMU KALA,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to designate the limu kala as the official limu of the State.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Kuaāina Ulu Auamo, Mālama Pūpūkea-Waimea, and numerous individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that limu kala has numerous uses and is of significant cultural importance to Native Hawaiians.  Your Committee further finds that limu kala is often used in Native Hawaiian cultural ceremonies, traditional fishing, and the protection of ocean voyagers.  Limu kala is also a critically important component of a healthy, productive reef ecosystem.  Designating limu kala as the official limu of the State acknowledges and promotes the critical role that limu plays in the natural environment and in sustaining the people of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Culture, Arts & International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 819, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 819, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Culture, Arts & International Affairs,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

ADRIAN K. TAM, Chair