STAND. 0CM. REP. NO. [“7(10
Honolulu, Hawaii
MAR31 ,2025
RE: H.R. No. 124
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.R.
No. 124 entitled:
“HOUSE RESOLUTION REAFFIRMING THE STATE’S OBLIGATION TO
UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF ITS PEOPLE BY RECOGNIZING
THE CRITICAL ROLE OF FRESHWATER IN MAINTAINING HEALTHY
NEARSHORE MARINE ECOSYSTEMS,”
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to reaffirm the State’s
obligation to uphold the constitutional rights of its people by
recognizing the critical role of freshwater in maintaining healthy
nearshore marine ecosystems.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawaii Reef and
Ocean Coalition; KOpeke Ahupua’a; Ka Pa’akai Consulting; Mälama
POpukea-Waimea; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of
Hawai’i; Kua~ãina Ulu ‘Auamo; and four individuals.
Your Committee finds that the State’s nearshore ecosystems
provide significant economic, environmental, and recreational
benefits. Your Committee further finds that freshwater from
streams and groundwater that discharges into the ocean play a
vital role in the health of the State’s nearshore marine
ecosystems and are critical to the health and abundance of native
2025—2947 HR124 HD1 HSCR HMSO
 STAND. CON. REP. NO.
Page 2
limu, which provides key ecological functions and serves as the
base on which fisheries and traditional and customary Native
Hawaiian practices rely. This measure affirms the State’s
obligations to the people of Hawaii by recognizing the importance
of freshwater to marine ecosystems to the State’s nearshore marine
ecosystems and encourages state and county departments and
agencies to prioritize the protection and restoration of
freshwater flows to nearshore marine ecosystems.
Your Committee has amended this measure by 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 Water & Land that is attached to this report, your
Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 124, as
amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached
hereto as H.R. No. 124, H.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on
behalf of the members of the
Committee on Water & Land,
~, Chair
2025—2947 HR124 HD1 HSCR HMSO
 State of Hawaii
House of Representatives 44c~c’p~.
The Thirty-third Legislature
Record of Votes of the Committee on Water & Land
Bill/Resolution No.: Committee Referral: Date:
~~ig
0 The committee is reconsidering its previous decision on the measure.
The recommendation is to: - ss~’~imended (as is) Pass, with amendments (HD) 0 Hold
Pass short form bill with to recommit for future public hearing (recommit)
WAL Members Ayes Ayes (WR) Nays Excused
1. HASHEM, Mark J. (C)
2. LAMOSAO,RacheleF. (VC)
3. BELATTI, Della Au
4. ICHIYAMA, Linda 7
-~
5. IWAMOTO, Kim Coco
~
6. MORIKA WA, Dee
7. POEPOE, Mahina -~
~
8. WOODSON, Justin H.
~
9. SHIMIZU, Garner M.
—
10. SOUZA, Kanani
TOTAL (10) Q Q
The recommendation is: ~Adopted ~ Not Adopted
If joint referral, did not support recommendation.
committee acrony
Vice Chair’s or designee’s signature:
Distribution: Original (White) — Committee Duplicate (Yellow) — Chief Clerk’s Office Duplicate (Pink) — HMSO