THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

82

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO OBTAIN REASONABLE COMPENSATION FOR THE USE OF THE LANDS ON MAUNA KEA BY THE ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORIES.

 

 

WHEREAS, since the earliest migrations of the Hawaiian people began many centuries ago, Mauna Kea has been revered by the Hawaiian people; and

WHEREAS, today, Mauna Kea is still considered one of the most sacred places in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, Mauna Kea's unique spiritual, cultural, historic, and natural resources make it one of the most significant places on earth; and

WHEREAS, the State's Historic Preservation Office has acknowledged Mauna Kea's significance by designating the summit region as a historic district, the cluster of summit cones as a historic site, and in 1962, the world's largest stone adz quarry and Ice Age Natural Area Reserve was placed on the list of National Historic Landmarks, recognizing the importance of the mountain to Hawaii and the world; and

WHEREAS, some of the most rare, threatened, and endangered plant and animal life exist on Mauna Kea, including the threatened Wekiu bug, found nowhere else in the world and whose current population has been reduced by ninety-nine per cent; and

WHEREAS, Mauna Kea is now considered one of the world's premier astronomical sites because of the rarified atmosphere surrounding Mauna Kea which makes for excellent viewing conditions for modern astronomy; and

WHEREAS, Mauna Kea now hosts the world's largest astronomical center, comprised of the greatest and most advanced telescopes in the world, owned by the richest nations in the world; and

WHEREAS, despite the development of world-class facilities on Mauna Kea, the State of Hawaii has failed to fully develop the economic benefits that this mountain can provide; and

WHEREAS, for over thirty years, the State of Hawaii, in conjunction with the University of Hawaii, has enriched the global community by nurturing astronomy on the mountain for relatively little compensation in return; and

WHEREAS, the current lease rent rate for the telescopes stands at $1 per year and is administered by the University's Institute for Astronomy and the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, although the lease rent rate is nominal, the University of Hawaii does obtain additional revenue through the sale of telescope time allocated to it by the various observatories atop Mauna Kea; and

WHEREAS, some estimates put the sale of a single night's telescope time at an observatory at $100,000 per night; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes the importance of supporting national and international astronomy programs and acknowledges the scientific and educational benefits that can be gained from these endeavors; and

WHEREAS, however, unless the full economic potential of Mauna Kea is realized, there is a risk of unduly burdening the taxpayers and straining the State's financial resources, resulting in curtailed public services, insufficient environmental controls, and compromised community support; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2003, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Auditor is requested to conduct a financial audit of the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii and the University of Hawaii's Institute for Astronomy with regard to revenues obtained from activities on Mauna Kea; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the audit include but not be limited to information on total revenues obtained from Mauna Kea activities under the University of Hawaii's control, a categorization of each revenue source and revenues obtained thereby, and a report on how the revenues are allocated; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is urged to obtain reasonable compensation for use of the summit and surrounding lands of Mauna Kea by:

(1) Reviewing the Auditor's 1998 report, Audit of the Management of Mauna Kea and the Mauna Kea Science Reserve, for the purpose of determining a reasonable allocation of lease rent;

(2) Developing plans, in consultation with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the University of Hawaii, to preserve and protect endangered plant and animal life and sites sharing historic, cultural, or religious significance and considering the cost of implementing those plans in determining reasonable compensation;

(3) Conducting an appraisal prior to determining a fair monetary value for use of the exclusive lands; and

(4) Working with member nations and the national and international astronomy community either to:

(A) Charge a fair lease rent to member nations and state and federal agencies that own the astronomy facilities, or

(B) In lieu thereof, be compensated with usage of telescope time that is equivalent in value to the determined fair lease rent, to be dispensed at the discretion of the Department of Land and Natural Resources;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to submit the audit report not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2004 Regular Session; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to submit a report on its actions to obtain a reasonable return from Mauna Kea leases not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2004 Regular Session; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Auditor, the Chairperson of the Board of Regents, the President of the University of Hawaii, the Executive Director of the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii, the Director of the University of Hawaii's Institute for Astronomy, the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Mauna Kea Astronomical Observatories