STAND. COM. REP. NO.3363

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: S.C.R. No. 101

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 101 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE USE OF ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES TO ADDRESS ENERGY NEEDS ON THE ISLAND OF KAHO`OLAWE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request that the Kaho`olawe Island Reserve Commission establish a task force to develop a plan for the utilization of alternate energy resources to address the current and future energy needs of the island of Kaho`olawe.

Testimony in support of the measure was received from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and the Kaho`olawe Island Reserve Commission. However, both agencies noted that the establishment of such a task force and its attendant responsibilities would strain their existing resources.

Your Committee finds that on November 11, 2003, the U.S. Navy will return control of Kaho`olawe to the State as both a symbolic and tangible gesture with regard to perpetuating and strengthening the movements of native Hawaiian identity and cultural preservation.

Your Committee also finds that the Kaho`olawe Island Reserve Commission, through extensive public consultation, has developed several planning documents that provide for the safe use of select portions of the Kaho`olawe Island Reserve and the establishment of culture and education centers, operations facilities, overnight campsites, restoration areas, and cultural and wildlife preserves on the island.

Kaho`olawe is geographically and logistically isolated from the other Hawaiian islands and concerns have emerged regarding appropriate power sources and adequate fuel supplies to successfully maintain planned facilities and operations. In light of this concern and in keeping with the Kaho`olawe Island Reserve Commission’s statutory mandate and vision to restore, preserve, and maintain a pristine natural environment on the island, the use of alternative energy resources for the island’s power needs should be considered.

Your Committee believes that the State is in the unique position of establishing Kaho`olawe as a model project for alternate energy research and application which can be utilized to plan for the future power needs of not only Kaho`olawe, but the entire State as well. Currently, the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, the Pacific International Center for High Technology Research, and the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii, are leaders in the field of alternate energy research. These resources should be utilized to provide Kaho`olawe with a sound alternate energy future.

Your Committee has amended the measure by providing the task force with more time to complete the project and requiring an interim report to the Legislature in 2003 and a final report in 2004.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 101, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 101, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

JONATHAN CHUN, Chair