STAND. COM. REP. NO.1361-02

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: S.C.R. No. 36

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land Use, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 36 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE ACQUISITION BY THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL PARK SERVICE OF KAHUKU RANCH FOR EXPANSION OF THE HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK AND OF KI`ILAE VILLAGE FOR EXPANSION OF PU`UHONUA O HONAUNAU NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to support the acquisition by the United States National Park Service of Kahuku Ranch on the island of Hawaii. The ranch consists of approximately 117,000 acres and is up for sale.

Your committee finds that the Kahuku Ranch parcel contains outstanding geological, biological, cultural, scenic, and recreational value and is the sole habitat for at least four threatened and endangered bird species endemic to Hawaii. Within the Ki'ilae lands which the National Park Service is seeking to acquire, more than 800 archeological sites, structures, and features have been identified.

Your committee further finds that acquisition of these lands would give the National Park Service an excellent opportunity to expand and protect native plants and archeological sites.

The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii provided testimony in support of this measure and the Trust for Public Land provided written testimony, also in support of this resolution.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 36, and recommends its adoption.

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

 

____________________________

EZRA KANOHO, Chair