STAND. COM. REP. 3394

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: S.R. No. 60

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.R. No. 60 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING A MANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL AUDIT OF THE HAROLD L. LYON ARBORETUM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Auditor to conduct a management and financial audit of the Harold L. Lyon Arboretum.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the measure from the University of Hawaii, Nadao and Mieko Yoshinaga Foundation, Waikiki Hawaiian Civic Club, an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Hawaii Pacific University, and twenty individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Lyon Arboretum is one of the most unique and beloved natural treasures of Oahu and the State of Hawaii. As it is also one of Hawaii's major repository of native species, it is very significant to Hawaiians and native Hawaiians. In light of this importance, any evidence of public concern regarding its operation must be given due deliberation.

Your Committee further finds that many of the people who testified as private individuals have unique qualifications that clearly make them interested stakeholders in this issue. They include student employees, volunteers, and staff members of the arboretum, members of the Lyon Arboretum Association, horticulturists, and Manoa community members.

The concerns of most of those who testified in support of this measure revolve primarily around alleged mismanagement, dubious spending patterns, overcommercialization, possible conservation zoning violations, lack of support for popular educational programs at the administrative level, disrespect of the host culture and environment, and the fostering of an atmosphere hostile to whistle blowers. Although these are serious allegations, the University of Hawaii, to its credit is open to this audit in the hopes of improving the university and its public profile.

Without attempting to prioritize the concerns of any one stakeholder group over any other, your Committee notes that certified copies of the resolution are not required to be forwarded to organizations representing the Manoa community. Your Committee urges the Auditor and University of Hawaii to keep Manoa residents apprised of the progress of this audit and related attempts at dispute resolution, and provide the local residents with opportunities to voice their concerns as the process moves along.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 60 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair