STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1357

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   S.B. No. 950

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Tourism & Culture and Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 950 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TARO,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to formally recognize the significance of taro in Hawaii's history and cultural heritage by designating kalo, the Hawaiian word for taro, as the official state plant.

 

     The Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Hawaii's Thousand Friends, and several concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Hawaii Agriculture Research Center supported the intent of this bill.

 

     Your Committees note that concerns were raised regarding the fact that there exist many different varieties of taro.  Some varieties may have little, if any, relevance to the cultural heritage of native Hawaiians. 

 

     In light of these issues, your Committees have amended this measure by deleting its contents and inserting provisions that require the Department of Agriculture (DOA) and the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to conduct a study to determine whether taro should be adopted as the official state plant and, if so, to determine the appropriate variety or varieties of heritage taro indigenous to native Hawaiian culture and lifestyle that should be considered for adoption.  In addition, this bill, as amended, contains an effective date of January 1, 2025, to encourage further discussion.

 

     Your Committees find that DOA and DLNR should consult with native Hawaiian organizations throughout the state to obtain their input in conducting the study.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Tourism & Culture and Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 950, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 950, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Tourism & Culture and Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs,

 

 

____________________________

KEN ITO, Chair

 

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair