House Standing Committee on Water & Land

Okay. Good morning, everybody. This is the committee on WaterLand. My name is Mark Hashem. To the left of me is my vice chair, Guy Morikawa.

Today is Tuesday, 02/17/2026. It's 9AM. We're in Conference Room 47 at the State Capitol. So the rules that we have to go through before we start, first of all, I ask you, we have read all your testimonies, so please don't read your testimony and just sum it up. We need to get to the floor session today by 12:00.

If not, all the bills on the agenda die. So please, sum up your testimony. We all we have it all here, or I have it all here. That way we can have everybody testify. For everybody on Zoom, please stay muted and your video off until we call you.

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If in the event of network failure on our side, we it may be necessary to reschedule the hearing.

If we do so, we will reschedule. We'll post we'll post an appropriate notice will be posted. Please avoid using any trademark materials in your Zoom or chat functions. Refrain from use refrain from profanity or uncivil behavior. If that's if you do that, we will we will renew you from the hearing or disconnect you from Zoom.

With that, first up, we have HB 1817 relating to protecting Hawaii's fisheries. First testifier we have DLNR, with comments.

Aloha chair, vice chair, members of the committee. Brian Nielsen on behalf of Department of Land and Natural Resources. We appreciate the intent of this bill and offer some comments. Department biologist feel probably the number one strain on the Ama Ama populations have been the diversion of freshwater flows. Places like Kalau Hai Hai in your district, Repasham, that have been cut off have basically cut off the food source for juvenile juvenile Ama Ama.

So we feel that's the number one stressor. That's not to say that, fisheries regulations are unneeded to sustain those populations that are currently, throughout the state. But we feel that a process working with fishers and stakeholders at a place by place basis would probably be the most effective approach to develop fisheries rules, but appreciate the the passion. Also wanna acknowledge the, Elementary School.

I did read the testimony and we'd be happy to have one of our biologists come speak to the, class or invite the court the class to a site visit where we sample Omaha population.

So, mahalo.

Okay. Next up, we have Waihui Elementary in person. So we have How do you wanna do that? Do you have a you know Can the teacher come up?

Yeah. Can the teacher come up first and you call up your students? Rather than me trying to figure out who?

Sure. Alright. Good morning, Chair Hashem, Vice Chair Morikawa, and members of the committees. My name is Crystal Impomato. I'm the sixth grade teacher at Guayaole Elementary.

And I'm here along with my students to testify in support of HB 1817 relating to creating a bag limit for the Ama Ama fish. My students have been working hard researching the decline of Ama Ama or striped mole in Hawaii. They analyze historical catch data, discuss sustainability, and even help to draft this bill along with representative Lisa Kitagawa that supports restoring these native fish populations and strengthening local food systems. As a class, we were able to taste together and the students loved it.

Seeing them enjoy this traditional food made the issue real for them.

We began asking, will future generations have this opportunity? What happens if we don't protect it now? Now my students are ready to use their voices by testifying in support of bill HB 1817. I'm excited for you to hear those voices today so that you might understand why this bill is so important important to the future generations of Hawaii. Mahalo for this opportunity to testify.

Okay. Thank you. Next

up. Right. So when you start, just state your name.

Good morning, Chair Hasham, Vice Chair Morikawa. My name I'm a member of the committees. My name is Karen Henrique, and I'm here to testify for testify in support of HB 1817 to creating a, back limit for the Alamo Alamo fish. I grew up as a fisherman and my grandpa was also a fisherman. He used to tell me when he went fishing, there's always groups of Ama Ama and the groups are big.

He told me when they jump out the water, they all used to lay their eggs. But nowadays you barely use small piles of the native Ama Ama. I support this bill because the Ama Ama fish is competing with invasive species.

Ama Ama are fishing stiff competition from the invasive kangamalet. Kangamalet spawn year round and go quickly, easily outnumber the native Ama Ama, making it even more important to manage the harvest of the native population. If this bill is not passed, then the might go extinct to overfishing and getting, getting taken over by the invasive condom. Again, I'm in charge to support this bill. Thank you for your opportunity to testify.

Have a great day, mahalo.

Thank you. Next.

Good morning, Chair Hashem, Vice Chair Morikawa and members of the committee. My name is Colova Perde and I'm here to testify to find support of HB 1817 relating to creating a bag for the fish. My name is and it means the great fishermen. I spent a lot of time when I was younger. I went fishing with my dad and we caught lots of.

Now when I go fishing, I do not see any Ama Ama. Seeing Ama Ama makes me happy because it tastes good. I support this bill because it it's important that the Ama Ama does not go extinct. By setting a bad limit, the Ama Ama has a chance to keep the population going for generations. The 'ama'ama is going extinct.

We need to make sure its generations go on to still last. It was important to many communities in our Hawaiian history. In in 1820 in 2023, they had a fish count. They had they caught 100 mullet, and they're all conda and invasive mullet. Not a single was found.

This is why I support eighteen HB 1817. I I'm available for any questions. Thank you for the opportunity to testify. Have a great day, Mohan.

Good morning, chair Hashem, vice chair Morikawa, and members of the committee. My name is Kuo Gabriel, and I am testifying in support of eight eighteen seventeen related to creating a bag limit for the Amamamu fish. I support this bill because the population of Amamua is going down. What I know about the Amamua fish is how to scale it, cut it, and cook it, and also heard stories of of it.

One of those stories I remember hearing is that people would guard the Ama Ama and tell it was time to be fished because it was so popular that they wanted the population to stay high in that.

The this matters because if we don't make the bill, the will go extinct. These reasons are why I support HB 1817. I am available for any questions. Thank you for opportunity to testify. Have a good day.

Mahalo.

Good morning, chair Hashdram, vice chair Morikawa, and the members of the committee. My name is Cara Saliado, and I'm here to testify in support of HB 1817 relating to creating a bag limit for the Ama Ama fish. The 'ama'ama, a native Hawaiian fish, has been decreasing rapidly. Fishermen and residents on Oahu have also seen a big decrease of the 'ama'ama fish over the years. Based on historical data, the harvest of 'ama'ama has declined 99.2% in just one hundred and eighteen years.

This is over 06/4500 pounds difference in a hundred one hundred eighty eight year. Local Ia fishermen produced and caught over 700,000 pounds of 'ama'ama fish in nineteen o three, which decreased to 70,000 pounds by 1943, then dropped to 5,500 pounds 2021. An experience that I had with the Alma Alma was being able to eat it and cook it. I'm grateful for this opportunity of getting to do that, and I hope that everyone get this experience that I was able to have.

The only way people can get this experience is if we save the Alma Alma for going extinct.

I'm available for any questions. Thank you for the opportunity to testify. Have a great day, Mahala.

Good morning, chair Hassam, vice chair, and members of the community. My name is Kalani Kahu. I'm here to testify and support the HB 18 and seventeen realizing to creating a bag limit for the Amaama fish. I care about the Amaama. My uncle told me stories about the olden days when Amaama start migrating at Fort Harbor and go all around the Ainu La'i.

Then they then they turn around and go back to Fort Harbor. They would spawn in a hallway. There were so many fish. I go fishing with my brothers and papa, and I I never seen a mama probably because they are they are might going extinct. I believe in this bill because if not, we have no to free our family.

Thank you thank you for this opportunity to testify. Have a great day in Mahalo.

Good morning, chair Hashem, vice chair Morikawa, and the members of the committees. My name is Keisha Mackenzie. I'm here to testify in support of the HB 1817 Malay degree in a bachelor for the Ama Ama fish. When my grandpa was younger, he used to walk along the beach, and he liked fishing, so he looked for fish. He saw huge groups of Ama Ama.

Every time he went, there was always less and less Ama Ama. Nowadays, there are barely any groups of Ama Ama. I think this is sad because Ama is special, and the future generations wouldn't get to see his fish. The Ama Ama would be extinct by the time the future generations get to eat something like the Ama Ama. I support this bill because the Ama Ama is outnumbered by the kanda, and the Ama Ama may go extinct.

The kanda is an invasive species, which is taking over habitat and eats the same food. Since there are more kanda than the Ama'amma and they eat the same food, which is limu, there'd be less food for the Ama'amma, and it could die. Evidence shows that in the 1990s, shoreline fishers reported that 80% of poor Ama scores were actually Kanda. This is very bad, and this means that the Kanda is taking over the Ama Ama.

If this bill does not pass, then the Ama Ama could go extinct, and the future generations would be affected and wouldn't get to eat the fish like the Ama Ama.

Again, I'm in shock support of this bill. Thank you for the opportunity to testify. Have a great day. Mahalo.

Good morning, chair Hasham, vice chair, and members of the committees. My name is Elani Richardson. I'm here to testify in support of HB 1817 relating to creating a bag limit for the Alamo'a fish. One of the things I've experienced with Alamo'a was when our class had the opportunity to cook the Alamo'a fish. After prepping and chopping the ingredients, we finally taste the llama.

It was incredibly fresh and flavorful. It tasted like no fish I've ever tried. I would want everyone to try this, and the only way we can is if we protect the llama. I support this bill because Oahu is losing more and more of the and Hawaiians value the.

a native Hawaiian wallet that holds a place of deep respect and cultural significance in Hawaiian culture. In ancient times, the 'ama'ama fish was used in special ceremonies to honor the Hawaiian god, Lono. Today, 'ama'ama are one of the most important fish in Hawaii and are cultured in large fish ponds in coastal regions.

I care about this bill because if we don't preserve this fish and create this bill, then future generations will not be able to try this fish, and then it'll be forgotten native Hawaiian food source. This is why I support bill HB 1817.

I'm available for any questions. Thank you for the opportunity to testify.

Good morning, chair Hashem, vice chair Morikawa, and members of the committees. My name is Emery Taylor, and I'm here to testify in support of HB 1870, relating to creating a bag limit for the Ama Ama fish. One of the things that I have experienced is cooking the Ama Ama fish because I got to see it. Although it was dead, it was still cool to actually see in person because I've never seen one before. So this is why we should add a bill to protect them.

We already have a law for spawning season, but then after that, you can just catch as much as you want. Bag limits for the 'ama'ama have been implemented in Hilo Bay to promote sustainable fishing and protect marine biodiversity. They have seen their 'ama'ama population increase dramatically. Now Hilo Bay has a better balance between fishing and protecting the ocean, helping both people and the environment.

Hilo Bay's bag limit for the 'ama'ama fish has worked, and that is why I feel we need a bill for all of Hawaii.

If this bill does not pass, then the 'Ama'amma's population will continue to decrease and the fish will possibly go extinct. These reasons are why as for HB 1817, I'm available for any questions. Thank you for the opportunity to testify. Have a great day. Mahalo.

Anybody else?

Aloha. Opportunity to talk to you guys, politicians. I'm Kaunalua Bishop from Waihaupakai. We support HB 1817. We're subsistence fishermen, and we feel like this, species has been in great decline for a very long time now.

And it's really unfortunate that our up and coming generations don't have the opportunity to fish for these species as my uncles and grandparents had. And this is one attempt to try to curb that decline of population. Of course, habitat restoration would be epic, although those things take a long time. So we're hoping that this, bill would put up, a little bit of help to this species. I think ten ten fish 10 fish per person is pretty reasonable if we just, intend to eat them.

Commercial activity, that's another story, but we hope you support this, bill so that we may have these species around for much longer so that our families can eat them for many more generations. Thank you.

Is there anybody else in the room wishing to testify? Seeing none. Anybody on Zoom? Nobody on Zoom. So that's all the people that we have registered to testify.

Is there members, are there any questions? Representative Iwoamoto.

Thank you, Chair. For DLNR, Thank you for pointing out that, you know, restoring the ecosystem. You mentioned, I guess, there's some water flowing from the mountain into the ocean in in Chair's District. What caused the water to stop flowing?

Well, that was a that was an interesting situation where, when the highway was expanded, the groundwater, flow was cut off and diverted to what was believed to be into the sewage system. But, you know, we see this for agricultural uses, all sorts of uses throughout the state where water flows are are diverted and where we once had thriving estuaries, you know, no longer, have those freshwater flows.

Okay. Can I also ask a follow-up question? So regarding I think there was some testimony speaking about, in the Hawaiian cultural taking of resources. There's an exemption right across the board that for traditional uses, there the the bag limit wouldn't apply.

Is that For for constant the constitution allows the practice, you know, Hawaiian practices. So, yeah, that's across the board. You know, if if you are cited, it can be, you know, problematic to have to go to court and, defend your constitutional rights, but but you're correct. Yeah. Okay.

It's protected. Yes. Okay. Thank you.

And, also, can I sorry? Is it 10 per day or 10 per season? I don't know what the back limit is.

What is it? Daily.

Oh, daily. 10 a day. Sorry. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Representative Shimizu.

Thank you, chair. Dylan. Obviously, this is a grave concern. Besides establishing this bag limit, are are there other things that are happening like, you know, cultivation or even aquaculture to, you know, save this this species. Do you do you know?

Yeah. There there's quite a quite a few efforts of, flying fish pond, revitalization, and and growing Ama Ama, for fishpond production. So that's happening throughout the state and, and growing.

That's great to hear. Thank you. Thank you, Jared.

Anybody else has any questions?

I have I have a question. Sorry. Just Just stay up there. Because I guess the bill, is isn't clear about the bag limit daily bag limit of 10 a month per person during the open season. That's why she was asking that.

And then secondly, the gathering rights pertains only to native Hawaiian people. Is that correct?

That's correct. Yes.

K. Now, the only problem I would have with this bill is every island is different. And we're gonna hear when if this hits, it would affect Kauai, it would affect Molokai, Lanai, and they're probably not having issues. It's probably here. So I just that's my concern.

I'm just wondering if your rules could just address critical areas.

Okay. Okay. And that's why we like to go out and talk to the fishing communities to get their input before, you know, anything gets put into the regulations.

So this bill would hurt your ability to to do that unless could be worded differently? Yeah.

If it's set in statute, like, the bag limit amount is set in statute, then we can't change that in regulations. But if it was left open, then we could, you know, do the stakeholder engagement and and figure that out and what works for for each place.

And you know that these children that came up to testify are very passionate about their area.

Yes. And we we share that passion.

Right. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Any other questions?

Yes. So to to, vice chair's point, and hearing the testimony from a specific, community, Is this something that you can take on? Or can you implement a bag limit, on your own for a certain area? Do you have that power already?

Yeah. We have the authority. It does take time. We we go through the Chapter 91 rulemaking process. Best case scenario that could take nine months, but if you add stakeholder engagement, holding meetings on different islands, that could extend, you know, another year to especially if there's controversy in terms of what the bag limit should be for a place that just delays the process.

But we do have that authority.

Okay. Yeah. I

have a question. Can you speak about, Hilo Bay and their bag limit and how that became successful?

Yeah. I'll have to get back to you on that. I'm not sure where that bag limit came from. We used to have a stock enhancement program in Hilo Bay where we'd raise Ama Ama and introduce it back into, I think that's I'm trying to remember the the stream there. Waikoloa.

Yeah. I can't remember the name of the stream. And so it might have been developed during that time to preserve, the fish that the fish that we are putting out. So, you know, fishers can all have a chance to catch them. We're in the process of getting that program going again, but it could be related to that history, but I I'll have to get back to you on.

Thank you very much. Members, any more questions? Seeing none, we are moving on. Next up, we have HB 202056, making appropriations to the city and county of Honolulu. Up, we have Hawaii State Department of Education in person.

They here in support. City and County of Honolulu, not here. Oh, you're here?

Good morning. DHLM will stand on written testimony...

Thank you. Next up, we have individual, DLNR.

Nobody answers? Sorry. That's all the people that we have registered to testify. Is there anybody else wishing to testify? Seeing none. Members, are there any questions?

I have a question for, the county.

Representative Villamotto.

Thank you. I was really happy to have the opportunity to read all of these acts from 2017, 2018, and read the history of how the county used to be responsible for this, Department of Education facilities. And these acts transferred a lot of those, expensive costs to the state.

So I'm kind of surprised that we alleviated a lot of the expense that the counties were picking up. And now we have to pay the right to continue paying for these expenses. Isn't there a way for the county just to say thank you so much to the state or taking all these costs on? We're gonna manage the transfer of title.

I appreciate the question. Just for the record, I'm Gavin Thornton, housing policy director at Department of Housing and Land Management. I appreciate the opportunity, to be here and for you to consider this. I'm afraid I'm not familiar with that history. And so I don't have any facts or data on, expenses that we're maybe saving on now.

I would be happy to dig into that and see what I can find out. All I know is that, the city and county many years ago was asked to transfer these lands. And then some expensive and time consuming process. I apologize that I don't know whether it will alleviate any expenses for us down the road, but I'd be happy to dig in and find out more.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you very much. Representative Shimizu.

Thank you, Chair. Do you know how much money is involved in this bill?

We've had an estimate, from another department, about $3.25 million dollars so the city and county's already expended, about, north of $350,000 on the school land transfers. And I have some details that I'd be happy to share.

Is this a one time, or is this ongoing?

Thank you Chair.

It's a one time request.

Okay. Thanks.

Thank you. Members, any other questions?

Thank you.

Seeing none, we're moving on. Next look. We have HB 2616, relating to Banyan Drive. Okay, first up we have DLNR.

Department stands on our written testimony.

Okay. Next, we have HCDA.

Morning Chair, Vice Chair, members of the committee. Craig Nakamoto, executive director of the Hawaii Community Development Authority. Regarding a testimony, we've submitted testimony with comments. So maybe Chair, Vice Chair, is there any thing you'd like me to sort of add for background or context to where we are?

Oh, we can do that during questions.

Okay. So just to add, to my testimony, I think HCDA is in a unique position right now parallel with this bill. We're undergoing a master planning, effort for, Banyan Drive. Our consultant has spoken with a number of community people, and this summer we're planning, a visioning exercise, to include the whole community and sort of, to create a vision for Banyan tribe.

We think that's gonna be maybe late summer, and that is with the money funds that were appropriated to OPSD then transferred to us by the late representative Nakashima. So I think we're in a unique opportunity because I think we can plan and try to establish the district at the same time. But I'm open to questions.

Thank you. Thank you very much. Next up, we have James Macaulay.

Good morning. Thank you, Chair, Vice Chair. I'm here today to represent my own personal interests, but I happen to be the chair of the Banyan Drive, Hawaii Redevelopment Agency in Hilo, appointed by the mayor. But under sunshine, we would be required before we provide official testimony to have established that by resolution, which we haven't done waiting to see how these bills develop. So in the future, I do hope that we'll be putting in official testimony.

I note that our mayor and our research and development did put in a testimony today. I'd like to, bring something to your attention that is, HCDA adjacent. My testimony addresses HCDA, my written testimony. But I've been involved in land use matters in Hilo in Banyan Drive, in the industrial area for more than a dozen years. I find it gratifying to have this much testimony on this bill in support of something that's so vital to our community.

But adjacent to this HCDA, management of these DLNR lands is the fact to understand why we got here and to not let that ever happen again. It had to do with the statutory restrictions in HRS 171-136. Those have been addressed since the failure of Uncle Billy's, the failure of Country Club. Those properties fell into economic obsolescence because 171-136 did not allow for a rational land tenure.

To have a absolute restriction, whether it be fifty five, sixty five, ninety nine, or nine hundred ninety nine years, is not good land use management, like, for public lands.

And if you look at polities around the world, they generally have a term that is rational for financing mortgage purposes for economic lands. Now I'm only addressing economic lands of forty or thirty-five or fifty years, but they allow for rollover, which is an extension or renewal to allow for the ongoing investment in these properties. So what I would like this particular committee, because HRS 171 is under your purview all the time.

So what I'd like you to be mindful of is that we look at our restrictions under 171-136.5 or 171-192, the Hilo Economic Community District that has special provisions as well. And to make sure that those are embedded in our future HCDA, hopefully, future HCDA managed public lands.

I'm available for questions. Thank you.

Very much. Next up, we have OHA, are you here?

Aloha. I'm on Zoom.

On Zoom? Okay. Alright.

Aloha. I'm Shardae Freitas, public policy advocate with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. We stand on our written testimony, and I will also highlight some key points as provided in our comments. Much of the district consists of ceded lands, and OHA have long sought to ensure that the state does not alienate ceded lands, that it maintains these lands to ensure purposes viability and availability for the future of Lihue.

We appreciate and recognize the importance of cultural special and lineal descendant members to honor this place and redevelop in a way that acknowledges history in a more balanced, restorative, and responsive to community well-being.

Accordingly, OHA recommends being included as a member of the Banyan Drive-Makaoku Redevelopment Agency and for the governor to appoint the cultural specialist and lineal descendant members after consulting with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and considering our recommendations. OHA respectfully provides these comments and urges the committee to incorporate our recommended amendments if it chooses to move forward with this bill. Mahalo nui for the opportunity to testify.

Okay. Thank you. Next up, we have Waiakea Ahupua'a, is that you?

That's me.

Terri? Are you Terri?

Yes.

Okay.

Aloha mai. Terri Napeahi from Waiakea Ahupua'a Crown Land Heirs. We appreciate this opportunity, Chair Hashem and Vice Chair for, and the rest of our members. I appreciate this opportunity to share with you why the development of this bill. And I really appreciate our legislators, Todd, Lee Loy, and, Matthias Kusch, who had helped us to insert language in the draft to include lineal descendants, who has a huge portion of this planning.

I'm a business major, economics major, also a planner in the Hilo County with expertise and also linear descendants of the ancients of Waiakea Ahupua'a. There were 27 members of our kingdom that were given opportunity to apply for their lands, old lands of Kamehameha. Maina P... Ohana was one of four stewards that managed the Waiakea that belonged at one time to Kamehameha I. Kamehameha I, it is his private lands, his private lands because of the resources of that hapu...

The fish was in abundance, but what was there too was a function of our ali'i, which is our first capital was Hilo, our ali'i that had a heiau called Kuaka Ananu'u.

The nape ahis had a function in Moku Ola, the Pu'uhonua and the heiau, Kuaka Ananu'u, that you see here, that we want to be the focal point, the center point of, of what you want to do in this development. My tutus hid that Maka Okuihulani on their land on Wailua River. I found after twenty years searching, they took off the ceremonial stones from the Heiau and put it in their lands and it was wedged in the ground for over two hundred years.

And Mo'opuna found it and have Kuleana to be able to reconstruct this Heiau. But we see this as an enhancement to the development of Waiakea Peninsula, we call Maka'oku.

We have been educating the universities, the agencies of the importance of having lineal descendants as an authority because we know the land. We are stewards, and let us continue to be the stewards to talk about economic opportunity. I'm a business person. I own a business that shares authentic Hawaiian products from the arts to the meats and to everything that we can provide. I would ask that you leave us as an authority in this group.

We can share this, use this as a people. Everything else will fall in place. Mahalo.

Thank you. Is there anybody else wishing to testify?

Hello, can you hear me?

Yes. Go ahead.

Aloha. My name is "Sepcha". Thank you for the chance to share testimony. I'm an architect and community planner based in Kona on Moku Okiyave. I'm ready to express my strong support for 2616 of the Banyan Drive Community Development District. It's critical that any legislation pertaining to the redevelopment of Maka'oku or Banyan Drive or the Waiakea Peninsula in Hilo includes lineal descendants in the decision making process to reflect all stakeholders, not just some, as it's vital to include the perspectives of Hawaiians with ancestral roots in the area.

I prefer this Bill strongly to SB 2001, which will be heard on Thursday by Senate committees, which does not include lineal descendants in the process.

So as an architect and as a resident, I want to see our built environment reflect native Hawaiian aesthetics and history. And this is a watershed opportunity to incorporate place-based Ike Kupuna into the urban planning process for a Wahi Pana that included these important places that were shared in the last public comment. Important sites for our islands past, present, and future. Mahalo.

Thank you very much. That's all the people that we have registered to testify. Is there anybody else wishing to testify? Go ahead. Please state your name and position.

Mahalo. Aloha, Chair. Mark Hashem. Aloha, Morikawa. My name is Kanoe "Ulubeyanoia" Case. My position is in strong, support for this bill, especially as it honors Maka'oku as, the original place name of this Banyan Drive development area.

And it also honors lineal descendants as being part of the authority group and also not, recommending that it be an advisory, but just to be specific, especially to be part of an authority and part of the decision-making processes that will occur with all stakeholders. I am a co-founder of the "Na Wai Lwi Ola Nui Lafaao Foundation", that's in process of being formally recognized as a 501c3., and our initiatives is to help promote Aloha Aina initiatives on our Moku and hopefully statewide.

And by doing so, we support the Waiakea Ahupua'a Crown Land heirs as we secure our land bases back to the people.

Yeah. That's one of the major initiatives that's gonna be pushed forward through this foundation. I'd like to honor the voices of our kupuna today. So with the next few minutes, I'm gonna share what important status by saying the names of my kupuna.

Yeah, we have we have to continue on. Can you Yeah. Sum up your testimony?

Yeah, I'm gonna sum it up and I'm gonna close it by telling you who I come from, where I come from, why I come from there, and why it's important that we stand in this room. My mo'oku'auhau from my paternal father's side descend from Avini Valley. We are the protectors of Kamehameha who raised him and protected him from, from his fate. I also stand in, descendants of Waipio and Waimanu Valley who are descendants of Keiko Haupio.

I also stand on the descendants of Keawe Nui Aumi, Keawe Iike Kahi Alia O Kamoku, Keawe Amoku, and Kaloku O Kamale, and Makaaaka... the firstborn son of Keauua, Kalani Ku Pua, Paikalani Nui, ahi alapalapa.

So if I have not been able to close as standing as a linear descendants advocating for supporting this bill, then I had failed to do my duty today. So I'm mahalo for your support and, please take righteous decisions. Mahalo.

Thank you. Thank you. Is there anybody else wishing to testify? Seeing none members, are there any questions? Representative Shimizu?.

Terri.

The woman in the green that came up here.

Sorry. I didn't get your name.

Yes. Can I can I ask you, did you submit written testimony?

Terri.

Yes, I did.

I'm sorry?

Did you submit written testimony?

And I'm sorry. Your name was?

Terri Napeahi.

And you were involved with the mayor planning or something?

No. No. I I'm a planner. I'm a planner, I'm off today so that I could testify in behalf of this bill, which was I'm a co-author of.

So I am not with the mayor. I'm with the planning department. I am a planner. But today, I'm Terri Napeahi with Waiakea Ahupua'a Crown Land Heirs. If you have any questions of my affiliation, I'll be more than happy.

So you are part of the county's planning department, Is that what you say?

Yes I am.

Okay. Okay. As far as this this bill, is it allowing you to be involved in the process?

Okay. And, do you support the bill?

Oh, yes.

This bill is. Yes. As a linear descendant.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you Chair.

Thank you. Representative Iwamoto.

Yes. For Miss Napeahi.

Yes.

Thank you for your testimony. So this bill, the way it's written, only requires that there be one lineal descendant, you know, which is a is a super minority on this body.

Is that one voice sufficient?

Yes.

Actually, I I did hope it would have added more, you know, because we see cultural specialists as a catchall, which may not have direct knowledge and connection to the the genealogy of that land, which my tutors have a function of. So more than one would be better, at least for us, you know, so we two, you know, two, millennial descendants as an authority. I think you would be setting a huge precedent even for the others that are not mentioned in the bill.

This is the first time ever that lineal descendants would have been ever on an authority group. We would be enhancing the planning of this, and you would have the buy in.

And I I'll tell you real quick. The finding of this pohaakus that my took off from the happened hundreds of years ago, but the state parks helped me, the state archaeologists helped me receive a registered number so that they could protect the stones that I revealed, that our Hutus hid on their land. This registered number gave us an opportunity to protect the stones. The rest of the stones of that 60 foot hayau were dismantled and used as filler for the roads around Lili'uokalani Park.

And it sits under all of that area, as well as the landing that they call aisles.

These pohacos, this heiau was a functional heiau, the replica of it. You would get the buy in of the entire community. There's so much prostitution going on, drug dealing in in this area. But ever since we had put the protection around these pohaakus, people realized the significance. And with great respect, even the homeless will stand there, take off their shoes in front of the horse hitches of those stones and pule.

That's the kind of action we have now where they used to do drug dealings, they do not do that there. They're just the pohaku sitting around protected by the state. That kind of action is not only Hawaiians. I find tangerines on my pohaku sometimes. I find coral pieces sometimes on that pohaku.

You build this heiau, everything else will fall into place. I promise you would have the buy in of the entire state wanting to see the 60-foot heiau place as center figure and the center point of the planning, everything, you build it and it will, they will come. I promise. The change of the personalities of people, the respect you're gonna have of the entire peninsula will happen. Everybody's ready to hapai pohaku.

They're so happy to be a part of building this structure. The children, I teach children, I give them tours. They want to hapai pohaku. They wanna be there in a long line passing pohakus so that they can rebuild something that they can cherish and they can respect.

Sorry. Anything else?

Can I ask another question?

Sure. I just wanna remind everybody that I well, I will speak for myself. I support this bill and my intention is to pass it up. But if we don't make our deadline, the bill dies. So.

I understand. One question to HCDA. Mister Nakamoto, please. Thank you, Craig, I understand handing over to HCDA the authority, the control, and I guess my question would be, because you have such great authority and control, what would be the guardrails for the rest of us to besides the committee that inputs, what, safeguards or accountability does HCDA have to, the outside of HCDA?

Thank you, Representative Shimizu. It's a good question. So, I'll be really quick because I don't want this bill to die, here. So, as I mentioned, you know, we have the unique opportunity to both try to create the district, establish the district in the legislature, but at the same time, we are undergoing a master planning process. As I mentioned, this summer, we're gonna have a kind of a community visioning session where the community will have input.

The result will be a community master plan. It's a master plan, not a piecemeal plan, not a piecemeal attempt. It's a master plan. That's gonna be a community master plan.

That's good enough for me.

So in that process, people are gonna have, that's the guardrails that we're gonna have. Thank you.

Craig, you can stay up there.

Good. Quick question. OHA wants to be a part of the selection process? Are you okay with that?

Sure.

So I'm okay with that. I think if we create a, like, a community advisory council and we have a composition of community members, plus maybe one lineal descendant that's selected with input from OHA. I'm fine with that.

Thank you very much.

I have a question. Would you be open to having three, lineal descendants?

I would be open to having lineal descendants on a community advisory council, you know, to have this bill or the basis of this bill was really from me. So, I drafted it for the Senate side and it became sent over to us. So, any absence of ... of the Senate is really my drafting. So, I take responsibility for that. But the reason I did that was, I don't know if you know, but we have five boards right now under HCDA.

Six, if this board is established. Seven, if there's another district established under a Senate bill. So I've tried to keep the boards kind of similar in terms of composition because, and I know this is not a good, very good reason, but I try to keep it that way for administrative, you know, administrative purposes to keep it a little simpler.

So having, I think three members of the board might be a little much, but if we have three members or four members on that community advisory council instead of the board, I'm supportive of that Representative.

Thank you.

Does that answer your question?

Does that answer your question? Okay.

Thank you very much. Okay. Moving-- we're gonna move on. Next up, we have HB 1718, relating to housing, and first up, we have Office of Planning.

We stand on our written testimony.

Support. And we have AARP. Not here. Housing Hawaii's Future.

We stand on our testimony.

Support. That's it. Nobody on Zoom? That's all the people that we have registered to testify. Is there anybody else wishing to testify? Seeing none. Members, are there any questions?

DHLM. I'd like to support.

Okay. Sorry. Yeah, you're on here but you're not registered. Okay. City and County of Honolulu in support. Thank you. Members, are there any questions? Seeing none, we're moving on. Next up, we have HB 1842. First up, we have Office of Planning in support.

Stand on our written testimony.

Next, we have DLNR in opposition.

And we have account tags, department of accounting and services. And that's nobody on human right. So all the people we have registered to testify are there any questions. Anybody else wishing to testify? Seeing none, members, are there any questions?

Can we?

Go ahead. Go ahead.

Can we ask OHA a question?

I mean, no. They 're not here.

They're not here. Okay.

Okay. Next. Moving on. Next up.

I have a question. I'm sorry. Can I ask DLNR a question? I'm sorry. I don't think so. I'm asking a question.

What why why are we even switching this out? Because just last year, we passed this bill that we we approved to be transferred.

The department also is unsure why this swap was even done this year. We we were not aware of it until we saw the bill.

Anybody in this room know? Yeah.

Shame for DLNR.

Representative Iwamoto.

I yield.

Thank you. So regarding the Ali’i Tower, that's the building closest to us. Yeah. I mean, it's very close. Yeah.

Yeah. The one without parking in the middle of parking lot.

Right. And I don't know if this is under your purview, but when renovations start here at this in this capital, which we know will happen soon, wouldn't that be an appropriate place for all of our offices to be moved to? I mean, this is why it's so shocking to me that we're transferring.

The part that's hard for me to speak on is that there is a master lessee for that building. So the the city and county has, like, the, the property, and there's a master lessee, and then they lease to all the individual. My understanding is there are some county offices still housed in there that would continue to be housed even after the transfer. But in terms of what else is available, none of that information was ever made to us.

We requested additional information last year when the bill went forward, and we did not receive anything to help us make an educated kind of decision about these things.

Okay. And if I can ask a follow-up. OHA gets some of its money. In theory, it should be in practice from the leasing of state lands.

If it is considered to be ceded lands, yes, they do get their percent. Yeah. DLNR is very good. We actually do do the 20%.

Right. So if we move an asset, if we transfer an asset to the county, does it lose that income allocation?

I don't know what the I don't know what the county is required to. Yeah. But I believe they pay too. So then they should yeah.

I don't think all has affected by it. It's just mainly the income stream to SLDF. Yeah.

Thank you. Rach pays too. Yeah. So she thank you. Good question.

Anybody else? Seeing none. Next up-- we're moving on. Next up, we have HB 1740, relating to HHFDC. First up, we have HHFDC in support. They're not here. Next, we have Holomua Collaborative.

Here, Chair.

In support.

Aloha, Chair, Vice Chair, members of the committee. Matt Prellberg, on behalf of Holomua Collaborative, in support, in strong support of House Bill 1740. Holomua Collaborative is a local nonprofit founded with the intent to advocate for policies that make Hawaii affordable for all local working families so they can afford to stay here.

As you can see in our testimony, we have recently released the results of our annual affordability survey, part of which identifies 75% of the 3,200 local working residents that were asked if they needed to move to a less expensive state; said either yes or that they were unsure if they were going to move. And measures such as HB 1740 will help keep our local families here.

There are always going to be out-of-state interests that are interested in purchasing homes in Hawaii, and constitutionally, we cannot bar folks from purchasing homes. However, we can implement policies that provide preference for our local working residents, and this bill is one of those policies.

By authorizing HHFDC to create a new program that will incentivize developers to build housing dedicated to local residents in perpetuity, this bill will allow for the variances and waivers of the 201H-38 program to apply to housing projects that sell 80% of all local-- of all units to local working residents who agree to live in the unit for at least one year and are domiciled in Hawaii. This can scale up housing for our families quickly and it-- we have spoken to a variety of developers that say 80% is a number that they can make pencil out and still get these projects built. I'm available if you do have any questions. Mahalo.

Okay. Thank you very much. That's all the people who-- Airbnb? In support. That's all the people that we have registered to testify. Is there anybody else wishing to testify? Seeing none. Members, are there any questions?

Question.

Representative Shimizu.

Holomua, please. Yeah. I was confused and I wasn't sure. Deed restriction is on the initial sale, so subsequent sales, resales, the deed restriction gets lifted?

No. The deed restriction will remain in place for perpetuity.

Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you. Members, any other questions? Seeing none. We're moving on.

Next up, we have HB 1919 relating to the relating to development standards. First up, we have Climate Change Mitigation Adaptive Commission. Support.

Aloha chair, vice chair, members of the committee, Leah Laramee with the Climate Change Mitigation Adaptation Commission. We stand on our testimony and support available for questions.

Next, we have Office of Planning.

We stand on our written testimonies.

Hawaii Realtors in support. I don't see them here. That is all the people that we have registered to test our pilot. We have a whole bunch of people.

You know what? And we're all doing Hawaii Bicycling. Are you guys here? No.

ARP, I don't see them. Housing Hawaii's Future, in support.

Yes. Law chair, vice chair, members of the committee. My name is Perry Arrasmith. I'm the director of policy at Housing Hawaii's Future. Just wanna briefly build on the written testimony that we submitted in strong support of this measure.

We believe that folks, lots of folks here in Hawaii, they need housing, and everybody who needs housing, they have different parking needs. I come from a household in Waipahu where there are four cars. A friend of mine lives in Downtown Honolulu. He does not own a vehicle. This measure is built to ensure that we do not overbuild parking.

We wanna permit homeowners and renters to decide how much parking they need in their lives. And to that end, we wanna let home builders gauge how much parking they need to provide for the residents, the renters, the homeowners who are purchasing those units, who are renting units. Whenever an unnecessary parking stall is built, in our state, it can cost between 70 to a $100,000 for new construction. This bill is, designed to impact future development. It does not impact existing communities.

For that reason, we humbly urge you to advance House Bill 1919. Thank you.

Okay. Thank you. Next up, we have grassroots initiative. Anybody on Zoom? Nobody on Zoom?

That's all the people that we have registered to testify. Is there anybody else wishing to testify? Seeing none members, any questions? Representative Iwamoto.

Thank you, Chair. For Housing Future.

There were two testimonies in, that I saw in opposition. One raised concerns with emergency, if you don't provide, developer provided parking spaces, it pushes more people to the, the streets, street parking. And, and then that clogs up the streets. But, what what is your response to that?

Was this council member of council member, not Google, Tamara Paltin. Yes. I was reading her testimony. I believe that in her testimony, she did mention that the county is presently not doing enough to regulate on street parking.

I do believe that in the case of communities like, I think in the case of council member Paulton, for West Maui at least, right now, there is a chronic housing shortage in West Maui, and there is not enough there are not enough housing opportunities, specifically apartment and apartment mixed use housing opportunities for residents in West Maui. We'd ideally like to see more housing opportunities for those folks.

But right now, from what we've seen in West Maui, a lot of folks are overbuilding on lots that are zoned for residential use. So I think that's the issue that she's getting at when she discusses the fact that right now, there is a lot of competition for on street parking. We'd like to hope that as her testimony mentions, we'd like to hope that Maui County can do a better job to regulate on street parking.

Can I also express that my one of my concerns or the impacts it would have on, electricians, plumbers, small business owners, those kinds of professionals who actually own, where their main, they have to they need their vehicles Close by.

My my my neighbor is an electrician. He has his truck parked down the street. Yep.

Yeah. So, I mean, if I feel like we're basically sending a message to the that professional class that we're gonna not offer them as much opportunities to be part of these developments. Do you know what I mean? We're I don't know. How do we?

I mean, I'd imagine for an apartment, for instance, at least I can imagine my neighbor's truck would not fit into a park some parking garages, for instance, in Downtown Honolulu. I'd imagine that within our housing, within the the the plethora of housing options that we have available, the the those folks have to look for housing opportunities that allow them to keep their vehicles.

Okay. Thanks. Thank you.

Not sure if they're allowed to park on the street. Right? If you have a Alright. Here, I have.

I don't. I don't wanna rat out my neighbor. Okay.

If you have a tour truck or some I think it's a piece sticker on there. Not allowed to park you're supposed to have dedicated parking for commercial vehicles.

Is that correct?

I mean, I'm not here to testify on this measure, but I believe that's the case. Yeah.

K. Thanks. That's right. Moving on. Next up, we have HB 1616 relating to agriculture.

First up, we have department of ag. Okay. Next, we have Farm Bureau. I don't see Farm Bureau. Oh, he's here.

Okay, Brian.

Is that a short joke?

Thank you, chair. The Hawaii Farm Bureau was down on his written testimony supporting the intent.

Oh.

Okay. Thank you. That's all the people that we have registered to testify. Nobody on Zoom. Is there anybody else wishing to testify?

Seeing none. Members, are there any questions? Representative Iwamoto.

Is our you're with DAGS. Is that correct? Is Somebody here with DAGS?

that department of ag. Yeah.

Yeah. Biodiversity. Yeah. I have a question.

Yeah. In your testimony. It sounded like your research you did indicated that this bill would potentially benefit one unique per person or one unique entity, this whole bill, to kinda make sure that they can get their use.

We narrowed down to only one agricultural park would fit the the the standards identified in the bill. So that's a whole agricultural park.

Okay. Yeah.

I'm not sure which we've narrowed it down to an entity, but Oh, okay. It does seem to be interest in doing that kind of operation there.

Right. And there was one person who actually expressed interest, and this would pave the way for them to get that access

This seems like you're right.

Without going through the current safeguards or process to go through the application.

Correct.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Anybody else have questions? Seeing none, we're moving on. Next up, we have HB 1774, relating to centralized access resources. First up, we have DLNR. Just DLNR.

Aloha Chair, Vice Chairs. We'll stand on our testimony in support.

Thank you. Next, we have-- anybody else on Zoom? Nobody on Zoom. That's all the people that we have registered to testify. Is there anybody else wishing to testify? Seeing none. Members, do you have questions for DLNR? Seeing none.

We're moving on. Next up, we have HB 1984 relating to renewable energy. First up we have DLNR. With comments.

Chair, vice chair, members of the committee, Carol Tyau-Beam, DLNR, we stand on our written testimony offering comments and available to answer any questions that you may have.

Thank you. Next we have QC. Chair by chair members, committee.

I'm ... on behalf of QC. ...

Okay. Next, we have have Hawaii Solar Energy Association in support.

Aloha, chair, vice chair, members of the committee. I'm Rocky Mould, with Hawaii Solar Energy Association. I'll I'll stand on my written comments in support of this measure, strong support of the measure. Just wanna note a couple things. DLNR offered some, some amendments that we support, and wanted to do.

But also, I wanna say this is a major breakthrough. I Wanna express my gratitude to DLNR for working with us to, find a way to get at this, FEMA flood zone issue with solar development. It's again, this is a major breakthrough, and we support this bill strong. Thank you.

Thank you. That's all the people that we have registered to testify. Is there anybody else wishing to testify? Seeing none, members, are there any questions? Representative Shimizu.

Can I ask you a question.

In the previous, committee hearing, contractor contractor license board, was concerned about, allowing commercial, exemptions because, you know, obviously commercial is much larger, more complex and I guess maybe it shouldn't be in included in this exemption and you have any thoughts on that?

Sure.

Yeah, You know, I think, we would support, you know, a reasonable, you know, threshold on the size of the system that this would allow for for I mean, for really large systems, yeah, I think there you do need more scrutiny. I you know, the licensed design professionals that would be stamping these plans and living by them are on the hook for those plans. We would have to make sure that they're compliant with code. So that's very clear. But yeah.

But there could be a reasonable, you know, threshold on the size of the systems that are allowed for this. And if you I mean, I think, number we're talking about, like, you know, 250 k w, something like that would be a reasonable threshold.

All right. Thank you. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you. Members, any other questions? Seeing none, we are moving on. Next up, we have HB 1603, relating to agriculture park leases. First up, we have Department of Ag.

Good morning. The department stands on its written testimony and offering comments.

Okay. Next, we have Farm Bureau in support.

Morning, Chair, Vice Chair, members of the committee. Brian Miyamoto, here on behalf of the Hawaii Farm Bureau. You have our testimony. We're in strong support of this Farm Bureau priority measure. This is just equity.

Legislature passed the law which would allow lease extensions for all counties except the City and County of Honolulu, so our Oahu farmers on the Ag parks don't have the opportunity to extend their leases. We've talked about it before. Farming is a long-term operation. We need to provide some assurance to our farmers who are on these leases. This is a may not a shall department. It doesn't have to extend their leases. They may. We support new farmers. Why are we almost ignoring our current farmers, our established farmers who are on these parcels? I know the argument is there's a long waiting list.

Well, our solution, our suggestion is let's look at private lands. Let's have the state and the legislature identify private agricultural lands that have the opportunity or possibility of being developed into gentleman farms, have the state purchase those lands, including to inventory and increase our number of agricultural parks. Why are we putting a time limit and expiration date on our farmers? We have a young farmer here on Oahu. Why are we saying, hey, just farm for this long?

Originally, the idea was they would go on Ag parks, grow their operations, and then move on to private land. Today, that's not the reality. So again, we are in strong support of this measure and we just ask that the legislature include City and County of Oahu. The threshold is 25 acres. Our testimony asked for 35 acres, I think, other than for 60 acres. Why are we even putting a ceiling on it? Let's include all farmers and ranchers on Ag park leases who are providing the food, feed, fiber, fuel, and floriculture that the State of Hawaii needs and wants. Thank you for the opportunity to testify.

Thank you. Ahiki Acres in support.

Good morning, Chair Hashem, Vice Chair Morikawa, and members of the committee. My name is Haley McKinnon, co-owner of Ahiki Acres, a diversified vegetable farm in Waimanalo. I stand in strong support of HB 1603. Over the past couple of years, our farm has invested more than 300,000 into our leased agricultural land, including infrastructure improvements and soil rehabilitation. This work directly supports soil health, reduces erosion, and strengthens the long-term productivity of the land.

We aren't just food producers, but long-term stewards of Hawaii's natural resources. Stability in agricultural leases allows us to plan responsibly, invest in conservation practices, and care for soil and water systems over time. Under current law, Oahu farmers are excluded from this lease extension eligibility due to county population limits but this bill restores fairness across counties and supports sustainable management of working lands. Mahalo for the opportunity to testify.

Thank you. That's all the people that we have registered to testify. Nobody on Zoom. Is there anybody else wishing to testify?

Aloha, Chair Hashem, Vice Chair Morikawa, members of the committee. Apologies. We submitted written testimony late this morning. My name is Amanda Shaw, Agriculture Stewardship Hawaii. We are an organization that does conservation agriculture.

We've been doing it in Hawaii for the last 25 years. This bill-- we agree with the previous speakers that it would really bring consistency to the Ag lease processes across the islands, and for us, you know, one of the frustrations is that state Department of Agriculture leases currently go to the highest bidder, which doesn't really reflect the kinds of investments that we know good stewardship takes, especially in soil health, which can take place over many years.

And so we see this as a first step to kind of reevaluating how agricultural land leases and parks are conceived and conceived for the public good if, as we've heard, that, you know, they're sort of conceived to support beginning farmers coming on and then they move on to commercial properties, but in reality, our prices are so high that few people can afford to do that, so we need to re-envision this.

We see this bill as helping provide that equity across the islands and to kind of getting us a first step in that re-envisioning process and really just enabling farmers like Haley and others that want to spend the time investing in their land, that they have at least an option to continue on instead of just going back in the pot with whoever can pay the most. Thank you for the opportunity to testify. I'm here for any questions.

Thank you. That's all the people that we have registered to testify. Anybody else wishing to testify? Seeing none. Members, any other questions? Representative Shimizu.

Thank you, Chair. Is there anyone from DAB here? Can you-- okay.

From what I'm reading on your testimony, the reason that Honolulu was excluded is to go to the highest bidder. Is is that correct?

This is expiring, and we're trying to determine who gets the land.

Yeah, good morning. Kevin Moore with the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. I don't know. I've been with the department less than a year. I don't know why the prior act left a lot of out.

I think maybe the proponents of that would be easier, you know, to get passed if a lot of it was carved out. But all the AG parks are subject to the same rules for disposition. So it's a competitive process. But we kind of agree with the idea that Oahu shouldn't be different. It may be that the most of the people on the wait list are interested in Oahu properties.

That may be the reason. I could get back to you on that if you want something more definitive.

Follow-up question, chair. So is that the only criteria, highest bidder, or do you consider like, what the testifier explained their investment into the property and their standing and so forth?

Well, so they definitely have to be a bona fide farmer. But if a property is is going out for the public notice process, which is not an auction, we use a competitive sealed bid. So you have to each applicant would have to describe what their farm plan is, and identify their credentials for succeeding at that operation. And then they also propose a rent and all that's reviewed by a committee to select the, to get this presented to the board.

So there's more that goes into it than just the the number then?

Definitely. Yeah.

Is there some kind of a score sheet or something?

Yeah. I think there's we we have a a score sheet that looks at all the criteria.

And is it, is something of what the previous testifier explained as far as her existing operation and investment. Is that weighted differently, or is it just the same as everything else?

So I guess I need to if a property is going out for disposition, it doesn't have a lease on it. So it would be going out as if no one had existing facilities on it. So at the end of the lease term, anything that's there, improvements would come owned by the state. And so I what this bill is trying to do is avoid that process where the lease end the lessee loses its investment because those all belong to the state at that point.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you, chair. Any other questions?

Yeah. I have a question. Department of Ag. Do you guys resolve the sale of their leases?

So there was an incident before where somebody got their lease renewed, and then they turned around and sold their lease leasehold interest. I think it was like for a million and a half because it's a long term lease. Right? So it's similar to fees and There was an issue regarding that. Did you guys ever resolve these issues?

Because that's an issue that comes up too. Right?

So I'm not familiar with the case you're identifying, but we do have, our rules. And the new the new release forms say that the board has to improve an assignment if there's substantial consideration like an arm's length sale, then there's the board, one, has discretion to approve or not, and two, to take a cut of the consideration fee. It's like the sandwich rent.

Alright. Thank you.

Any other questions? Seeing none, members, we're moving on. Next up is HB 2171, relating to the University of Hawaii. First up, we have University of Hawaii in support.

Good morning, chair, vice chair, members of the committee. My name is Denise Yoshimura Yamamoto. I'm the associate vice president for the community colleges, and we stand on our, testimony of strong support. Thank you

That's all the people that we have registered to testify with the answer. Members, any questions?

Questions for the university. Thank you so much. Can you describe as as maybe a recent situation where this has been an obstacle, a barrier?

Yeah. So, basically, at the community colleges, you know, our focus is workforce. And so we have our hospitality academy on Maui. And, part of the CIP project was to renovate a building, and we created, hospitality rooms. And we were able to get from industry.

They sponsored each room. And what we wanted to do was to create more of the hands on experience for our students was create this lab, bring people in, have them be able to stay overnight. So that pretty much our students get the check-in all the way through. And this obviously is a step before they go into industry and intern. So that's actually one that is pending right now because we're trying to get the county approvals to up to We built it already.

So we have a permit, but it's to open it to allow us to have people stay overnight.

We're having people stay overnight.

We would like to, but we don't we can't do that yet because we don't have the proper approvals in the county.

Okay. So this would exempt all that. Okay. Can I ask a follow-up question, Chair?

It says any lands that the university system controls. Does university system control Mauna Kea?

That's technically

Yes. It does. It,

But, it's yeah. Now it doesn't because of the

There's a hotel already open. Really? For it's for the staff.

Okay. Lodging. Yeah.

Yeah. Well, there yeah. That's probably a better term. There's lodging right there.

Okay. So you're saying it there's no UH has no connection to Mauna Kea at all?

That's what they're working on now. That does fall within UH systems. I'm with community college systems. I cannot articulate all the details of it

This applies to the whole UH system, not just community colleges. And the way I understand the way things are right now, Mauna Kea would be included. So this would exempt because it is, obviously, there are telescopes that are educational. This would exempt all of that. So I'm just pointing that out because we're gonna get a lot of heat on this bill if we don't specifically amend this bill to not apply to Mauna Kea.

Okay. I just wanna get a letter. I'm Thank you.

DLNR

I get you.

You wanna do it? You wanna okay.

And you should have left the room when you had the opportunity.

Definitely can reach back out to the acting chair. I think he'd be the best person to answer these questions.

Because he will they still have to go through a conserve, conservation use permit. Right?

I believe so. But again, I will definitely

There's a lot of exemptions, land use commission, county. There's a lot of exemption. This bill is broad.

Yeah. I'll take this back and consult and get back to you folks.

Great. Any other questions? Seeing none, we will recess. Okay. We are reconvening our committee on water and land.

First up, we have HB 1817. Chair's recommendation is to pass this out with an HD1. We're gonna I'm gonna push out the date that they that DLNR sets the rules to 2030. According to his testimony, it takes a long time for them to do this, so I'm gonna give them more time.

And also, it's this will apply for only areas with no management plan in place currently. And for example, Moanalua Bay already has a management plan. They already went through the process, and they already set limits. So this is not gonna trump the work that they have already done. And I'm gonna the amount to be the bag limit shall be set by DLNR by their rules.

I don't think it's based upon DLNR. They said, I will let DLNR set the rules and the bag bag limits for what they when when they go through their process, what they determine is appropriate for the area. And defecting the date to twenty seven one three thousand. Any questions or concerns? Seeing none. Vice chair for the vote.

Okay. We're voting on HB 1817. Recommendation to pass with amendments. Chair and vice chair vote aye.

[Roll Call]

Okay. Next up, we have HB 2056. Chair's recommendation is to pass this out with an HD1 to tech amendments, defect date to 07/01/3000, and that's it. And we're gonna put in the committee report 3.25 million, for that's the amount that the city needs. Any questions or concerns? Yes.

Thank you, chair. I'm gonna be voting no, as I mentioned during my questioning of the county, I did go back and read the acts referred to in this bill. And to my opinion, the county saved a lot of money by us taking responsibility for a lot of education costs related to those lands. And we shouldn't have to give them more money for the benefit that they already received.

Okay. Any comments or any other comments or concerns?

Chair, I would agree with, Rep Iwamoto's concerns, and I will be voting with reservations.

Okay. Is there anything else? Seeing none, vice chair for the vote.

Okay. Voting on HB 2056, recommendation to pass with amendments. Noting the excused absence of Rep Poepoe, the note of rep Iwamoto and reservation for Rep. Shimizu. Any other reservations?

Reservations.

Thank you. Rep. Belatti.

Reservations.

So these are reservations. Any nos? Okay.

Okay. Thank you very much. Next up, we have HB 2616 relating to Banyan Drive. Chair's recommendation is to pass the south with an HD 1. We're gonna take HCDA's amendments to the bill.

I'm not gonna read it because it's long and extensive. You can go see their testimony. And I'm also gonna take full house amendments and recommendation for them to pick the, for them to do the selection and selection process. And to defect this, I'll do seven one three thousand. Any comments or concerns? Thank you.

Questions. Will, when you say you're taking the HCD's amendments, I heard, Mister Nakamoto say that he prefers all of the lineal descendants to be on an advisory panel instead of a voting member of the body. How are you reading the amendments in his testimony?

The way HCDA has it, they have several boards. Right? A few yeah. They they have five boards. He wants to structure it.

And I agree. Structure the board the same way. Not the board, but structure this community development, all the same matter. And how all the other special districts are structured will be the same. So that way, everyone are not structured differently.

So, yes, they're not on the board. They're on an advisory council to for the master planning of the whole. Okay.

Thank you, Charles. I'll be voting no. I think that this we heard testimony, a lot of testimony was sent in written, weird verbal testimony, that this piece of land is different, I think, than a lot of the other spaces. And, yeah. So for those reasons, and they again, I thought we'd be voting on the amendment sent to this committee that included having one lineal descendant on the vote as a voting member.

But since that person, that will not be happening. I'll be, I thought I was gonna vote with reservations, and I'm voting no.

Thank you. Any other comments or concerns? Vice chair for the vote.

Excuse me, chair. Yeah. Based on Rep Iwamoto's comments just now, I thought the bill did have one linear descendant voting member.

He's amending it.

You're you're amending it, chair?

We're taking yes. We're taking eight CDAs. We're structuring the we're structuring. This is similar to how all the other boards and commissions are made. It is oh, you can go read through them.

Yeah. Yeah. Sure.

Let me do the the testimony and its details.

Yeah. I mean, I I support the bill. I'm just really concerned about, what testimony we heard from many of descendants that I I believe should be, intimately involved in the process.

It will be in It would be involved in the process as an advisory board to the master planning.

Okay. I'm gonna trust you, chair. Thank you.

But this this bill continues on. There's a long way for it to go. There's another bill coming in from the Senate that we're following. So any comments or concerns? Seeing none, vice chair for the vote.

Voting on HB 2616, recommendation to pass with amendments. Noting the excused absence of Rep Poepoe and the no Rep Iwamoto. Any other no's? Any reservations? Seeing none, your recommendation is adopted.

K. Thank you very much, Members. Next up, we have HB 1718 relating to housing. Chair's recommendation is to cast this off as is. It already has its reflected date. Okay. Comments? Concerns? Seeing none, please Chair for the vote.

You're voting on HB 1718 HD 1. Recommendation to pass as is. Noting excused absence of Rep. Poepoe. Any reservations, any nos, recommendation adopted.

Okay. Next up, we have eight HB 1842. Chair's recommendation is to pass this out with an HD 1 and take DLNR, alright. Sorry. Pass this out with an HD 2.

Thank you. And take DLNR's amendments to fix the TMK, and that's about it. Any comments or concerns? Seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote.

Chair. Sorry, Chair.

I didn't get a, a sufficient answer on why this is even being required.

Well, I'll, I'll tell you later. We can discuss it.

Alright. Well, if short of that, I'm voting no on this. Okay.

I'll be voting no as well.

Vice Chair for the vote.

Okay. We're voting on HB 1842 HD 1 recommendation to pass with amendments. Noting excused absence of Poepoe, no's by Rep Iwamoto and Shimizu. Any other no's? Any, any reservations?

Belatti. Thank you. Recommendation adopted.

Okay. Next up. Thank you very much, members. Next up, we have HB 7, 1740 relating to HHFDC. Chair's recommendation is to pass this bill as is because it already has a defect.

Any comments or concerns? Seeing none, vice chair for the vote.

Okay. We're voting on HB 1740 HD1. Recommendation to pass as is. Noting to choose absence of Rep Poepoe. Any reservations?

Any no's? Recommendation adopted.

K. Next up, we have HB 1919 HD1. Chair's recommendation is to pass this out with an HD2 and just to make tech amendments. It already contained it already has a defective date. HD 2.

So we're voting on yeah.

Moving on HB 1919.

Excuse me. May I make a comment?

Yes.

Sorry. Sorry vice Chair.

It's fine.

Yeah. I just wanted to share that this this bill in particular posts a lot of, concerns for me. One, I'm an advocate of home rule, but I'm also an advocate of affordable housing. And I also see, you know, that the counties could be doing more to address some of these issues. Given all of those concerns, I'm gonna be voting with reservations.

Okay. Good. Thank you. I understand your reservations. I lived in Tokyo, and they have no parking mandates, but they have other rules that they have to govern to address those secondary outfalls and the bill address doesn't address that.

So I understand your concern.

Thank you, chair.

But the bill still has a long ways to go and I think we need to have the discussion. So thank you. Yeah. Vice chair for the vote.

Voting on HB 1919 HD1 recommendation to pass with amendments. No need to excuse absence of rep Poepoe. Reservations of rep Iwamoto any other reservations? Any no's? Recommendation adopted.

Thank you. Next up, we have HB 1616 HD 1.

Chair's recommendation is to pass this out as is. It already has a defect date. Any comments or concerns? Seeing none.

Chair, I'll be sorry, I'll be voting no, pursuant to DAB's testimony, written, and then his confirmation during our questioning period, that this bill seems to actually benefit one particular enterprise.

Okay. I understand. Any other comments or concerns? Seeing none, vice chair for the vote.

Voting on HB 1616 HD 1. Recommendation is to pass as is. Noting the excuse absence of Rep Poepoe and the no for Rep Iwamoto. Any other no's? Any reservations?

Seeing none. Recommendation adopted.

Okay. Next up, we have HB 1774 related to the centralized access resources. Chair's recommendation is to pass this out with an HB 2 zero out the amount and put it into the committee report. It already has defect a defect date and. check amendments for the different.

Okay. Comments or concerns?

Chair. I'm sorry. I didn't have a chance to ask some of my questions, and that's on me, but I believe that this money that's being appropriated should have a direct direct, action, besides creating a website, which is kind of passive to me. So I will be voting no on this.

Okay. Alright. Vice chair for the vote.

Okay. We're voting on HB 1774 HD 1 recommendation to pass with amendments. Noting the excuse absence of Rep Poepoe, the no by Rep Shimizu, or any other no's? Any reservations? Recommendation adopted.

K. Next up, we have HB 1984 relating to renewable energy. Chair's recommendation is to pass this out with an HD 2. We're gonna take DLNR's amendment, and we're also gonna take Hawaii Solar Energy Association's amendments that they have on page two. That's it.

It has a defect date and tech amendment. Comments or concerns or not? Yeah.

Oh, sorry. I was gonna vote yes, but I'm sorry. When when you do general, blanket statements about taking a particular testimonies amendments, and I don't have time to go run and look at It makes it really difficult. And so I'm gonna vote with I was gonna vote yes on this one, but I'm gonna vote with reservations, just in case I don't agree with those amendments. But thank you very much, chair.

Okay.

I'm losing landscape architects. But anyways, Paul.

Sure. Chair. My concern is with the commercial being included and the discussion with the testifier that possibly 250 kilowatt is a good tipping point where exclusions should occur. So I will be voting with reservations.

Okay. Thank you very much. Next, vice chair for the vote.

Okay. We're voting on HB 1984 HD 1 recommendation to pass with amendments. No need excuse, absence of rep Poepoe and reservation by Iwamoto and Shimizu. Any other reservations? Any nos?

Your recommendation adopted, Chair.

Next up, we have HB 1603 HD 1. Chair's recommendation is to pass this unamended that already has a defect date. Comments or concerns? Seeing none, Vice Chair for the vote.

We are voting on HB 1603 HD 1. Recommendation to pass as is. Excuse absence of Rep. Poepoe. Any reservations? Any noes? Recommendation of pass due.

OKay. Last. And last up, we have HB2171 HD1. Chair's recommendation is to pass this out. Unamended, it already contains a defect date, but I'm gonna put in the committee report for the next committee.

It goes to finance for the next committee to see if this includes Mauna Kea. Did you address that issue?

Chair, since I'm voting on the bill as it is in its current form and because I read it as being overly broad to include Mauna Kea, perhaps I'll change my vote down the line, but for now, it's no.

Okay. Any comments or concerns? If not, vice chair for the vote.

Voting on HB 2171 HD 1. Recommendation to pass as is. Noting excused absence of Poepoe and the no of Rep Iwamoto. Any other reservations?

Reservations.

Reservations for Shimizu. Any no's? Recommendation adopted.