Bill Text: HI HB2179 | 2016 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii House Bill 2179 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Aha Moku Advisory Committee; Appropriation ($)

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-2)

Status: (Enrolled - Dead) 2016-04-28 - Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-29-16 1:30PM in conference room 423. [HB2179 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2016-HB2179-Amended.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2179
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 2

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE AHA MOKU ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that, over the past two hundred years, Hawaii has experienced extensive changes, which include the deterioration of the Hawaiian culture, language, values, and land tenure system, which have in part resulted in the over-development of the coastline, alteration of fresh water streams, destruction of life-giving watersheds, decimation of the coral reefs, and the decline of endemic marine and terrestrial species.

In an attempt to remedy this situation, in 2012, the legislature established the aha moku advisory committee by Act 288, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012. The aha moku advisory committee was placed within the department of land and natural resources for administrative purposes. Act 288, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012, formally recognizes the aha moku system, a traditional system of best practices based upon the indigenous resource management practices of moku, regional, and ahupuaa, site-specific geographic areas, that acknowledge the natural contours of land, the natural resources located within those areas, and the methodology necessary to sustain resources and the community. The role of the aha moku advisory committee is to advise the chairperson of the board of land and natural resources regarding the aha moku system, on issues related to land and natural resources.

Since its creation in 2012, the aha moku advisory committee has continued to fulfill its mission and mandates as set forth in Act 288, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012, by working with the eight main Hawaiian islands, which encompass forty-six traditional moku in which six hundred nine ahupuaa are listed. In 2015, the aha moku advisory committee documented its accomplishments in a report to the legislature and included recommendations from all the islands, and specifically from Hawaii and Oahu. The report also lists the decisions of the board of land and natural resources relating to those recommendations. Additionally, the report lists the twenty-eight resource issues that came before the department of land and natural resources divisions relating to the aha moku system. Most of these issues were mitigated within the department of land and natural resources at a divisional level to the satisfaction of the inquiring communities.

A purpose of the aha moku advisory committee is to strengthen the rapport and communication between the department of land and natural resources and the public, including the native Hawaiian community, on issues regarding natural and cultural resources, thereby benefitting the entire State. The aha moku advisory committee is well suited for this goal and continues to be successful with the beginning phases of these efforts. However, although the legislature unanimously passed Act 288, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012, and appropriated funding in that Act, funds for the aha moku have never been released. As a result, the aha moku is concerned that it may not be able to fulfill its mission and the full mandates set forth in Act 288, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012, even though the aha moku advisory committee is ready to take action.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for the administrative, operational, and community outreach expenses of the aha moku advisory committee.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2076.

Report Title:

Aha Moku Advisory Committee; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds for the administration, operation, and community outreach expenses of the aha moku advisory committee. Effective 7/1/2076. (SD2)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.