House Water and Land Committee advances multiple conservation, public‑safety and water‑management resolutions; federal‑lands request deferred

The House Committee on Water and Land met March 31 in Conference Room 411 and moved forward a broad package of resolutions on natural‑resource stewardship, public‑safety planning and local water management.

The committee approved HCR 13 (also labeled HR 15) with DLNR‑proposed amendments, a measure that urges the Department of Land and Natural Resources to collaborate with the Department of Education and the State Public Charter School Commission to develop a student coral stewardship program. Charlie Taylor of DLNR’s Division of Aquatic Resources told the committee the department filed written comments and proposed technical amendments and was available for questions.

The committee also passed HCR 61, a resolution urging increased investment in reforestation, nursery capacity and workforce development to restore degraded public and private lands across Hawai‘i. Jennifer Grimm, forestry program manager with DLNR’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife, told members that state nurseries are understaffed, in need of water‑treatment upgrades and lack horticultural civil‑service positions needed to scale propagation. Community witnesses including Melissa Pavlicek and Joslyn Herbert described cross‑sector Hui efforts and the role of reforestation in reducing runoff, flood impacts and wildfire risk.

Advocates pressed the panel to adopt the Hawaii Water Safety Plan through HCR 155/HR 147. Jessamie Townhorner, a co‑founder of the Hawaii Water Safety Coalition and a bereaved family member, and Kalani Vieira, operations chief of Kauai Ocean Safety Bureau and president of the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association, said the statewide plan — developed by more than 200 partners — would coordinate prevention, education and response and help secure funding and recognition for lifeguards and drowning‑prevention staff.

On HCR 185/HR 175, which urges county permitting agencies to deny permit applications to convert warehouses into immigration detention facilities for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Chris Coffield (IMUWA Alliance) argued the resolution is a protective measure modeled on other states’ actions and said service providers worry that detention interrupts access to survivors and legal services. Committee members questioned whether local need or verified plans for a facility in Hawai‘i existed; Coffield said he had heard unverified reports that ICE had been looking at properties but could not confirm details.

The committee debated HTR 65/H R 62, asking DOT and DLNR to coordinate the transfer of small boat harbors. Megan Stats, administrator for DLNR’s Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, and a DOT deputy director discussed past transfers, mission differences between DOT and DLNR, staffing that may move in a transition, and the limits on federal formula funds for harbor projects. DOT said some harbor projects may use discretionary federal grants but there is no broad federal formula for harbors.

On water management for Maui, the committee adopted HCR 178/HR 168 with amendments offered in testimony. Multiple witnesses representing East Maui and the East Maui Regional Community Board urged prioritizing a water (and related delivery‑system real property) set‑aside to the County of Maui so that local public institutions can manage the East Maui Irrigation system under the public‑trust doctrine. Testimony raised concerns about private ownership by investment entities and stressed the community’s desire for local stewardship.

A resolution asking the president to return surplus federal recreational lands under Public Law 88‑233 (HCR 199/HR 189) drew lengthy discussion from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, which supported conveyance of surplus lands to the state but recommended the committee reference the General Services Administration’s administrative surplus‑land process rather than sole action by the president. Members asked about environmental remediation responsibilities and whether existing state working groups have the statutory scope and funding to take on a federal‑lands inventory. The committee deferred HCR 199 for further work.

In decision‑making, the committee took roll‑call style votes and advanced the bulk of the agenda: several resolutions were passed as presented, some with technical or sponsor‑recommended amendments. Where the transcript records votes, the chair announced members’ ayes and noted a small number of reservations recorded in the record; detailed roll‑call counts were not always read aloud for every measure in the room.

What’s next: most measures advanced by the committee will move to subsequent floor or conference schedules for further consideration; HCR 199 was deferred for additional work on scope and federal conveyance mechanics.

Quotes from the hearing: "We stand on our written testimony providing comments ... and are available for any questions," Charlie Taylor, DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources. "Our nurseries are understaffed ... we really need to think carefully and critically about what kind of labor is required to bring our existing nursery infrastructure to a more state‑of‑the‑art situation," Jennifer Grimm, DLNR Division of Forestry & Wildlife. "This plan was developed by a statewide coalition of more than 200 partners ... legislative support is essential," Lisonbee Schaeffer, Hawaii Water Safety Coalition. "If there was a facility established here, it might incentivize detainment locally ... access to services ceases as soon as people are detained," Chris Coffield, IMUWA Alliance.

The committee adjourned after completing decision‑making on the posted water‑and‑land agenda.