SCR 79: encouraging the United states navy to take responsibility for the eradication of octocoral and other invasive species from the waters of Pearl Harbor, including West Loch, Middle Loch, and East Loch.

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

encouraging the United states navy to take responsibility for the eradication of octocoral and other invasive species from the waters of Pearl Harbor, including West Loch, Middle Loch, and East Loch.

     WHEREAS, two invasive species of octocoral, or Unomia stolonifera and Capnella spicata, are two of many invasive species that threaten Pearl Harbor's maritime ecosystem; and

     WHEREAS, octocoral takes over marine habitats extremely quickly because it is a "soft coral" that does not form a calcium exoskeleton like reef-building corals, allowing it to rapidly grow and spread colonies, smothering Hawaiian coral reef ecosystems; and

     WHEREAS, in areas where octocorals dominate the marine habitat, there is a lower density and diversity of fish; and

     WHEREAS, the United States Navy reported the presence of octocoral near Pearl Harbor in late 2020 during surveys that were not focused on these octocorals and recent surveys have documented these species in a much larger area and indicate that they were most likely present before 2019; and

WHEREAS, consistent maintenance is necessary to preserve and care for the natural features of Pearl Harbor and its shoreline; and

     WHEREAS, a strong unified response is required to remove and eradicate octocorals and other invasive species from the waters of Pearl Harbor; and

     WHEREAS, the United States Navy is the principal caretaker of Pearl Harbor, including both its waters and shoreline; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, the House of Representatives concurring, that the United States Navy is encouraged to take responsibility for the eradication of octocoral and other invasive species from the waters of Pearl Harbor, including West Loch, Middle Loch, and East Loch; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the United States Navy is encouraged to allocate resources to eradicate octocoral and other invasive species from the waters of Pearl Harbor, including West Loch, Middle Loch, and East Loch; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the United States Navy is urged to allocate resources to clean, maintain, and secure the shoreline of Pearl Harbor, including West Loch, Middle Loch, and East Loch; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to United States Secretary of the Navy.

Report Title: 

United States Navy; Octocoral; Invasive Species; Pearl Harbor; Shoreline; Maintenance