STAND. COM. REP. NO.84

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: H.B. No. 443

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land Use, to which was referred H.B. No. 443 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO MATCH FEDERAL FUNDS FOR THE HAWAII FORESTRY AND COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to support the efforts of the Hawaii Forestry and Communities Initiative (HFCI) in diversifying Hawaii's economy with sustainable forest practices by appropriating $200,000 to be matched with federal funds.

HFCI represents the State's focal point for forest industry expansion and community capacity building in Hawaii. However, since its inception in 1997, funding for HFCI has lagged. To date, the State has authorized far less than the required 50 percent match for U.S.D.A. Forest Service Rural Development grants. Of the $1,250,000 in federal funds granted to HFCI since 1997, the State has provided matching funds totaling only $350,000.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, the Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Forest Industry Association, and the Hawaii Leeward Planning Conference. The Department of Land and Natural Resources supported the intent of this measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land Use that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 443 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

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

____________________________

EZRA KANOHO, Chair