STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2172

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 3163
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, and Hawaiian Affairs, to
which was referred S.B. No. 3163 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAWAIIAN CULTURAL AND
     EDUCATIONAL FACILITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate $1.5 million
for a Hawaiian cultural and education center in Waimanalo, Oahu.

     Testimony in support of the measure was received from the
Waimanalo Construction Coalition, and five private citizens.

     Your Committee finds that the Hawaiian culture must be
preserved, protected, and shared with future generations.  Your
Committee also finds that Hawaii's economy has been in a state of
stagnation for nine consecutive years.  The impact of this
economic stagnation has an acute effect on Hawaii's rural
communities, particularly in the Waimanalo community.  The high
rate of unemployment in Waimanalo and the need for job training
and placement of its residents strongly illustrates the demand
for employment opportunities in the State of Hawaii.

     Your Committee also finds that Hawaii Ola Waimanalo, a non-
profit organization, was created to develop a Hawaiian cultural
and educational facility in the Waimanalo area.  The plan has
received strong community support from numerous organizations
within Waimanalo.  Your Committee believes that the creation of
such a facility would not only provide needed education in

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2172
                                   Page 2


Hawaiian culture, but would also provide construction jobs and
other vocational opportunities as well.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Water, Land, and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached
to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of S.B. No. 3163 and recommends that it pass Second
Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Water, Land, and
                                   Hawaiian Affairs,



                                   ______________________________
                                   COLLEEN HANABUSA, Chair

 
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