HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP GOEAC 089 2026-01-06 2024-2026REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON
GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
DATE: January 6, 2026
PLACE: Council Chambers
Hilo, Hawaii
TIME: 9:01 a.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Re: Comm. No. 656/Res. No. 422-25
Your Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs, to which was referred Resolution
No. 422-25, reports as follows:
Resolution No. 422-25, transmitted by Council Members Holeka Goro Inaba and Michelle M. Galimba
via Communication No. 656, dated December 4, 2025, urges the Hawaii State Legislature to prohibit
the harvest of aquatic life from state marine waters for commercial aquarium purposes.
Member Inaba shared that this resolution came about due to meeting with community members who
have been working on this issue for over a decade. He said that aquatic life being harvested for
commercial aquarium purposes is difficult to monitor and doesn't benefit our community. He
mentioned that Representative Nicole Lowen will be introducing a bill in alignment with what this
resolution urges and that he will also be following up with a County bill similar to what Maui County
has done. Member Galimba added that this is a large issue in her district and that most people, beyond
the small portion of those benefiting directly, are in agreement that this practice should be stopped.
Committee Members James E. Hustace, Rebecca Villegas, and Matt Kaneah'i-Kleinfelder spoke in
favor of Resolution No. 422-25.
Committee Member Ashley L. Kierkiewicz requested that the introducers of this resolution notify the
other members when this legislation is in process at the state level in the coming months so that they
can mobilize their communities to send testimony in support of a ban on this extractive practice.
Your Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs is in accord with the purpose and
intent of Resolution No. 422-25, and recommends its adoption.
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AYES
NOES
ABS
EX
GALIMBA
X
HUSTACE
X
INABA
X
KAGIWADA
X
KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER
X
KIERKIEWICZ
X
KIMBALL
X
ONISHI
X
VILLEGAS
X
Respectfully submitted,
COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL
OPERATIONS AND
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