Aquarium Fish Harvest Ban

At a glance

What: two resolutions urging a ban on harvesting aquatic life from Hawaiʻi marine waters for commercial aquarium purposes. Resolution 26-159 urges the State Board of Land and Natural Resources to direct the Division of Aquatic Resources to adopt rules; Resolution 26-160 urges the State Legislature to enact a ban.
Outcome: both adopted August 12, 2026. 26-159 passed 7-1 (Tupola no; Okimoto and Tulba aye with reservations; Dos Santos-Tam absent). 26-160 passed 6-1 (Tupola no; Okimoto and Tulba aye with reservations; Dos Santos-Tam and Nishimoto absent).
Who moved: Kiaʻāina moved both; Tupola seconded the motions.

Kiaʻāina: adopting them aligns Honolulu with the Maui, Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi County councils; she noted an upcoming Board of Land and Natural Resources hearing.
Tupola: the Council lacks jurisdiction, the matter has been extensively aired at the Legislature and the Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the Council should defer to the department.
Testimony in support: Rene Umberger (For the Fishes), Mahesh Cleveland (Earthjustice), ʻAlohi Nakachi (Office of Hawaiian Affairs), Gibson (Pono Advocacy), Tanaka (Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi), Kane (chair, Waimānalo Neighborhood Board No. 32), Lisa Bishop (Friends of Hanauma Bay), Mike Nakachi, Elena Bryant.
Testimony in opposition: Jai Cox, Eric Koch, Ron Tubbs, James Lovell, Eric Moennich, Nick Ramirez and a speaker identified as Johnny.

City Council journal (minutes), regular meeting of August 12, 2026 (adopted October 7, 2026): https://hnldoc.ehawaii.gov/hnldoc/document-download?id=29151

Both resolutions adopted after extensive testimony (14 speakers on 26-159, 12 on 26-160).