Laserfiche WebLink
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON <br />GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS <br />DATE: January 6, 2026 <br />PLACE: Council Chambers <br />Hilo, Hawaii <br />TIME: 9:01 a.m. <br />Council Chair and Members <br />Hawaii County Council <br />Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br />Re: Comm. No. 656/Res. No. 422-25 <br />Your Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs, to which was referred Resolution <br />No. 422-25, reports as follows: <br />Resolution No. 422-25, transmitted by Council Members Holeka Goro Inaba and Michelle M. Galimba <br />via Communication No. 656, dated December 4, 2025, urges the Hawaii State Legislature to prohibit <br />the harvest of aquatic life from state marine waters for commercial aquarium purposes. <br />Member Inaba shared that this resolution came about due to meeting with community members who <br />have been working on this issue for over a decade. He said that aquatic life being harvested for <br />commercial aquarium purposes is difficult to monitor and doesn't benefit our community. He <br />mentioned that Representative Nicole Lowen will be introducing a bill in alignment with what this <br />resolution urges and that he will also be following up with a County bill similar to what Maui County <br />has done. Member Galimba added that this is a large issue in her district and that most people, beyond <br />the small portion of those benefiting directly, are in agreement that this practice should be stopped. <br />Committee Members James E. Hustace, Rebecca Villegas, and Matt Kaneah'i-Kleinfelder spoke in <br />favor of Resolution No. 422-25. <br />Committee Member Ashley L. Kierkiewicz requested that the introducers of this resolution notify the <br />other members when this legislation is in process at the state level in the coming months so that they <br />can mobilize their communities to send testimony in support of a ban on this extractive practice. <br />Your Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs is in accord with the purpose and <br />intent of Resolution No. 422-25, and recommends its adoption. <br />slm <br />AYES <br />NOES <br />ABS <br />EX <br />GALIMBA <br />X <br />HUSTACE <br />X <br />INABA <br />X <br />KAGIWADA <br />X <br />KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER <br />X <br />KIERKIEWICZ <br />X <br />KIMBALL <br />X <br />ONISHI <br />X <br />VILLEGAS <br />X <br />Respectfully submitted, <br />COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL <br />OPERATIONS AND <br />/.!SAO <br />I %bA, CHAIR <br />.�. <br />DO' 1 1 , <br />