HB 309: UH; Fishponds; Working Group; Inventory; Appropriation

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO FISHPONDS.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that before Western contact, researchers estimate that there were approximately four hundred eighty-eight loko i`a (fishponds) in Hawaii.  An inventory conducted in 1901 found around three hundred sixty loko i`a across the State, with about ninety-nine of them in active use at the time.

     Over the past two centuries, a range of factors, including changes in economic and social systems, land use and development, tsunamis, sedimentation, climate change, and the introduction of invasive species, have impacted loko i`a to varying degrees.  While some loko i`a remain relatively intact, others have fallen into disrepair, are in ruins, or have been destroyed to make way for development.

     In recent years, a statewide movement to restore and revitalize fishponds has gained momentum, with around forty-nine fishponds currently managed by local community organizations and kia`i loko (fishpond guardians).

     Loko i`a are not only essential for preserving traditional native Hawaiian culture and practices, but also play a vital role in enhancing the State's ecological well-being and offer opportunities to protect cultural resources and expand food security and community-based resource management.

     Many fishponds in Hawaii are publicly owned.  However, no comprehensive database exists to inventory these fishponds, assess their conditions, or evaluate their potential for restoration.  To fulfill its responsibility as a steward of the `āina and ensure that future generations can benefit from the opportunities fishponds provide, the legislature believes that the State must have more complete data on these important resources and deems this Act to be a law of statewide concern.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish a working group within the university of Hawaii sea grant program to develop an inventory of all fishponds on state land.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  There is established a fishpond inventory working group within the university of Hawaii sea grant college program for administrative purposes.

     (b)  The working group shall create an inventory of all fishponds on state land that includes the following information for each fishpond:

     (1)  The traditional name;

     (2)  The type, style, or function;

     (3)  The approximate acreage, including submerged lands within the fishpond;

     (4)  The tax map key, if available;

     (5)  An analysis of the current and historical condition, including sites in ruin or destroyed;

     (6)  Historical uses and permits associated with the fishpond;

     (7)  The surrounding land uses; and

     (8)  Any other relevant data as determined by the working group.

     (c)  The working group shall create:

     (1)  A map of all fishponds on state land; and

     (2)  A literature review, including a review of Hawaiian language newspapers that includes any relevant sources used for collecting the inventory data.

     (d)  The working group shall consist of the following members or their designees:

     (1)  The director of the university of Hawaii sea grant college program, who shall serve as the chair of the working group;

     (2)  The administrator of the office of conservation and coastal lands of the department of land and natural resources; and

     (3)  The administrator of the land division of the department of land and natural resources.

     (e)  The chair of the working group shall invite the following individuals to serve as members of the working group:

     (1)  One representative from Hui Mālama Loko I`a; and

     (2)  Any other persons deemed relevant by the chair.

     (f)  Members of the working group shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

     (g)  The working group shall submit an interim report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than November 1, 2026.

     (h)  The working group shall submit a final report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than November 1, 2027.

     (i)  The working group shall be dissolved on June 30, 2028.

     SECTION 3.  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 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to create an inventory of all fishponds on state land.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

Report Title:

UH; Fishponds; Working Group; Inventory; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes a fishpond inventory working group within the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program to create an inventory and map of all fishponds on state land and conduct a literature review.  Appropriates funds.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (SD1)

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

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO FISHPONDS.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that before Western contact, researchers estimate that there were approximately four hundred eighty-eight loko iʻa (fishponds) in Hawaii.  An inventory conducted in 1901 found around three hundred sixty loko iʻa across the State, with about ninety-nine of them in active use at the time.

     Over the past two centuries, a range of factors, including changes in economic and social systems, land use and development, tsunamis, sedimentation, climate change, and the introduction of invasive species, have impacted loko iʻa to varying degrees.  While some loko iʻa remain relatively intact, others have fallen into disrepair, are in ruins, or have been destroyed to make way for development.

     In recent years, a statewide movement to restore and revitalize fishponds has gained momentum, with around forty-nine fishponds currently managed by local community organizations and kiaʻi loko (fishpond guardians).

     Loko iʻa are not only essential for preserving traditional native Hawaiian culture and practices, but also play a vital role in enhancing the State's ecological well-being and offer opportunities to protect cultural resources and expand food security and community-based resource management.

     Many fishponds in Hawaii are publicly owned.  However, no comprehensive database exists to inventory these fishponds, assess their conditions, or evaluate their potential for restoration.  To fulfill its responsibility as a steward of the ʻāina and ensure that future generations can benefit from the opportunities fishponds provide, the legislature believes that the State must have more complete data on these important resources and deems this Act to be a law of statewide concern.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish a working group within the university of Hawaii sea grant program to develop an inventory of all fishponds on state land.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  There is established a fishpond inventory working group within the university of Hawaii sea grant college program for administrative purposes.

     (b)  The working group shall create an inventory of all fishponds on state land that includes the following information for each fishpond:

     (1)  The traditional name;

     (2)  The type, style, or function;

     (3)  The approximate acreage, including submerged lands within the fishpond;

     (4)  The tax map key, if available;

     (5)  An analysis of the current and historical condition, including sites in ruin or destroyed;

     (6)  Historical uses and permits associated with the fishpond;

     (7)  The surrounding land uses; and

     (8)  Any other relevant data as determined by the working group.

     (c)  The working group shall create:

     (1)  A map of all fishponds on state land; and

     (2)  A literature review, including a review of Hawaiian language newspapers that includes any relevant sources used for collecting the inventory data.

     (d)  The working group shall consist of the following members or their designees:

     (1)  The director of the university of Hawaii sea grant college program, who shall serve as the chair of the working group;

     (2)  The administrator of the office of conservation and coastal lands of the department of land and natural resources; and

     (3)  The administrator of the land division of the department of land and natural resources.

     (e)  The chair of the working group shall invite the following individuals to serve as members of the working group:

     (1)  One representative from Hui Mālama Loko Iʻa; and

     (2)  Any other persons deemed relevant by the chair.

     (f)  Members of the working group shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

     (g)  The working group shall submit an interim report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than November 1, 2026.

     (h)  The working group shall submit a final report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than November 1, 2027.

     (i)  The working group shall be dissolved on June 30, 2028.

     SECTION 3.  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 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to create an inventory of all fishponds on state land.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

UH; Fishponds; Working Group; Inventory; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes a fishpond inventory working group within the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program to create an inventory and map of all fishponds on state land and conduct a literature review.  Appropriates funds.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

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

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING to fishponds.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that before Western contact, researchers estimate that there were approximately four hundred eighty-eight loko iʻa (fishponds) in Hawaii.  An inventory conducted in 1901 found around three hundred sixty loko iʻa across the State, with about ninety-nine of them in active use at the time.

     Over the past two centuries, a range of factors, including changes in economic and social systems, land use and development, tsunamis, sedimentation, climate change, and the introduction of invasive species, have impacted loko iʻa to varying degrees.  While some loko iʻa remain relatively intact, others have fallen into disrepair, are in ruins, or have been destroyed to make way for development.

     In recent years, a statewide movement to restore and revitalize fishponds has gained momentum, with around forty-nine fishponds currently managed by local community organizations and kiaʻi loko (fishpond guardians).

     Loko iʻa are not only essential for preserving traditional native Hawaiian culture and practices, but also play a vital role in enhancing the State's ecological well-being and offer opportunities to protect cultural resources and expand food security and community-based resource management.

     Many fishponds in Hawaii are publicly owned.  However, no comprehensive database exists to inventory these fishponds, assess their conditions, or evaluate their potential for restoration.  To fulfill its responsibility as a steward of the ʻāina and ensure that future generations can benefit from the opportunities fishponds provide, the legislature believes that the State must have more complete data on these important resources and deems this Act to be a law of statewide concern.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish a working group within the university of Hawaii sea grant program to develop an inventory of state-owned fishponds.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  There is established within the university of Hawaii sea grant college program a fishpond inventory working group for administrative purposes.

     (b)  The working group shall create an inventory of all state-owned fishponds that includes the following information for each fishpond:

     (1)  The traditional name;

     (2)  The type or style;

     (3)  The approximate acreage, including submerged lands within the fishpond;

     (4)  The tax map key, if available;

     (5)  An analysis of the current and historical condition, including sites in ruin or destroyed;

     (6)  Historical uses and permits associated with the fishpond;

     (7)  The surrounding land uses; and

     (8)  Any other relevant data as determined by the working group.

     (c)  The working group shall create:

     (1)  A map of all state-owned fishponds; and

     (2)  A literature review that includes any relevant sources used for collecting the inventory data.

     (d)  The working group shall consist of:

     (1)  The director of the university of Hawaii sea grant college program, or the director's designee, who shall serve as the chair of the working group;

     (2)  The administrator of the office of conservation and coastal lands of the department of land and natural resources, or the administrator's designee; and

     (3)  The administrator of the land division of the department of land and natural resources, or the administrator's designee.

     (e)  The chair of the working group shall invite the following individuals to serve as members of the working group:

     (1)  One representative from Hui Mālama Loko Iʻa; and

     (2)  Others as invited by the chair.

     (f)  Members of the working group shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

     (g)  The working group shall submit an interim report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than November 1, 2026.

     (h)  The working group shall submit a final report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than November 1, 2027.

     (i)  The working group shall be dissolved on June 30, 2028.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $250,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to create an inventory of all state-owned fishponds.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

Report Title:

UH; Fishponds; Working Group; Inventory; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes a fishpond inventory working group within the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program to create an inventory and map of all state-owned fishponds and conduct a literature review.  Appropriates funds.

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

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1832

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 309

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 309, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FISHPONDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a fishpond inventory working group within the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program to create a literature review, inventory, and map of all fishponds on state land, and appropriate an unspecified sum to support the working group.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, County of Maui, Purple Maia, Hawaii Food + Policy, Alii Pauahi Hawaiian Civic Club, Kupu, Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition, Kuaaina Ulu Auamo, Historic Hawaii Foundation, Hawaii Ocean legislative Task Force, The Nature Conservancy, Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association, Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action, Sierra Club of Hawaii, Friends of Hanauma Bay, Makani Hou O Kaloko-Honokohau, and ten individuals.

     Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from one individual.

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the University of Hawaii System.

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii's fishponds are invaluable cultural and ecological resources that support thriving coastal ecosystems, food security, and community resilience.  The fishpond inventory working group established and funded by this measure will help inform the restoration and rejuvenation of additional fishponds throughout the State.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

     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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 309, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 309, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

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

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1281

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 309

       H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Water and Land and Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 309, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FISHPONDS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Establish a fishpond inventory working group within the University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program to create an inventory and map of all fishponds on state land and conduct a literature review of Hawaiian language newspapers that includes any relevant sources used for collecting the inventory date; and

     (2)  Appropriate funds.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation Commission, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, University of Hawaiʻi System, Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui, Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo, Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi, Historic Hawaiʻi Foundation, Hawaiʻi Ocean Legislative Task Force, The Nature Conservancy, Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy, Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition, and five individuals.

     Your Committees find that fishponds, or loko iʻa, are an integral part of Hawaiian culture, history, and sustainability practices.  Fishponds demonstrate the ecological knowledge of early Hawaiian communities and continue to play a significant role in the health of coastal ecosystems and adjacent communities.  The maintenance and restoration of existing fishponds is therefore critical to the State's cultural, food security, and sustainability goals.  Accordingly, this measure establishes a working group to develop an inventory of all state-owned fishponds, which is an important next step in protecting these invaluable resources.

     Your Committees note that the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program maintains that it could conduct the project, as currently described, entirely in-house and without third-party consultants by leveraging the resources and expertise available to the Program, including graduate research students, faculty within the Program, and Hawaiian language experts at the University of Hawaii.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water and Land and Higher Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 309, H.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water and Land and Higher Education,

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1150

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.B. No. 309

      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 Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 309, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FISHPONDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish a working group within the University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant Program to develop an inventory of state-owned fishponds.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Hawaiʻi Ocean Legislative Task Force; Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi; Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo; Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; Aliʻi Pauahi Hawaiian Civic Club; The Nature Conservancy, Hawaiʻi and Palmyra; and four individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program and Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation Commission.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 309, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  294

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.B. No. 309

      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 Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 309, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FISHPONDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish a working group within the University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant Program to develop an inventory of state-owned fishponds.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Agriculture; University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program; Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission; Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui; Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo; Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action; Kauai Climate Action Coalition; Malama Kauaʻi; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; Historic Hawaiʻi Foundation; Hawaiʻi Ocean Legislative Task Force; Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; Pacific Whale Foundation; Mālama Paʻakea o Waimalau; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; and numerous individuals.

     Your Committee finds that the University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant) has supported the restoration of loko iʻa and the perpetuation of loko iʻa practice for decades as part of its mission to improve understanding and stewardship of coastal and marine resources.  Your Committee further finds that the Hawaiʻi Sea Grant's expertise and partnerships with the Department of Land and Natural Resources and other partners involved in the restoration, preservation, and perpetuation of Hawaiian fishponds will be of great value in developing an inventory of state-owned fishponds.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 309, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.B. No. 309

      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.B. No. 309 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FISHPONDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish a working group within the University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant Program to develop an inventory of state-owned fishponds.  

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawai‘i Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission; Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action; Green Party of Hawai‘i; Historic Hawai‘i Foundation; Kua‘āina Ulu ‘Auamo; Hawai‘i Farmers Union United; Hawai‘i Fishermen's Alliance for Conservation and Tradition, Inc.; Strata Farms; and numerous individuals.  

     Your Committee finds that an inventory conducted in 1901 found approximately three hundred sixty loko i‘a, or fishponds, in the State, with approximately ninety-nine in active use at the time.  Your Committee further finds that since that survey, a range of factors have impacted loko i‘a to varying degrees.  While some loko i‘a remain relatively intact, many have fallen into disrepair, are in ruins, or have been destroyed.  Your Committee believes that in addition to preserving traditional Native Hawaiian culture and practices, loko i‘a play a vital role in enhancing the State's ecological well-being and offer opportunities to expand food security and community-based resource management.  This measure is intended to fulfill the State's responsibility as a steward of the land and ensure future generations can benefit from the opportunities loko i‘a provide by developing a comprehensive inventory of loko i‘a in the State, their condition, and their potential for restoration.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the inventory shall be of all fishponds on state land and shall include information on the function of each fishpond;

     (2)  Specifying that the literature review shall include a review of Hawaiian language newspapers;

     (3)  Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

     (4)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $250,000.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 309, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 309, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Higher Education.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,