Bill Text: HI SB786 | 2015 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Aha Moku Advisory Committee; Appropriation ($)
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2015-05-01 - Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-15 5:15PM in conference room 423. [SB786 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2015-SB786-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
786 |
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TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015 |
S.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
H.D. 1 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE AHA MOKU ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that, over the past two hundred years, Hawaii has experienced extensive changes, which include the deterioration of the Hawaiian culture, language, values, and land tenure system, which have in part resulted in the over-development of the coastline, alteration of fresh water streams, destruction of life-giving watersheds, decimation of the coral reefs, and the decline of endemic marine and terrestrial species.
In an attempt to remedy this situation, in 2012, the legislature established the aha moku advisory committee by Act 288, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012. The aha moku advisory committee was placed within the department of land and natural resources for administrative purposes. Act 288, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012, formally recognizes the aha moku system, a traditional system of best practices based upon the indigenous resource management practices of moku, regional, and ahupuaa, site-specific geographic area, that acknowledge the natural contours of land, the natural resources located within those areas, and the methodology necessary to sustain resources and the community. The role of the aha moku advisory committee is to advise the board of land and natural resources and the department of land and natural resources regarding the aha moku system, on issues related to land and natural resources.
Since its creation in 2012, the aha moku advisory committee has continued to fulfill its mission and mandates as set forth in Act 288, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012, by working with the eight main Hawaiian islands, which encompass forty-three traditional moku in which five hundred eighty-nine ahupuaa are listed. In 2014, the aha moku advisory committee documented its accomplishments in a report to the legislature that was issued in English and Hawaiian languages and included recommendations for the moku of Hawaii, Lanai, Oahu, and Kauai. The report also lists the decisions of the board of land and natural resources relating to those recommendations. Additionally, the report lists the almost forty resource issues that came before the department of land and natural resources divisions relating to the aha moku system. Most of these issues were mitigated within the department of land and natural resources at a divisional level to the satisfaction of the inquiring communities.
A purpose of the aha moku advisory committee is to strengthen the rapport and communication between the department of land and natural resources and the public, including the native Hawaiian community, on issues regarding natural and cultural resources, thereby benefitting the entire State. The aha moku advisory committee is well suited for this goal and is continuing to be successful with the beginning phases of these efforts. However, although the legislature unanimously passed Act 288, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012, and appropriated funding in that Act, the aha moku advisory committee has never been funded. As a result of this situation, while the aha moku advisory committee is well situated within the department of land and natural resources and is active, it has not been funded so that it can fulfill its full mandate.
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2015-2016 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for the administrative and operational expenses of the aha moku advisory committee.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.
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 2015-2016 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for community outreach efforts of the aha moku advisory committee.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on December 24, 2088.
Report Title:
Aha Moku Advisory Committee; Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates funds for the administration and operation of the Aha Moku Advisory Committee and for community outreach. (SB786 HD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
