STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1026

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.C.R. No. 159

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 159 entitled:

 

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS TO RELEASE PASTORAL AND AGRICULTURAL LEASES TO ITS BENEFICIARIES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to:

 

     (1)  Release pastoral and agricultural leases to its beneficiaries; and

 

     (2)  Submit to the Legislature prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2012, a report of its activities and efforts with respect to the release of pastoral and agricultural leases to its beneficiaries.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Keaukaha Panaewa Farmers Association, and two individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

 

     Your Committee understands that the Hawaiian Homes Commission took action last year to support initiatives to make more agricultural and pastoral homesteads available to beneficiaries, and that the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is currently in the process of assessing agricultural and pastoral homesteads with the intent of revising, redeveloping, and advancing these programs.  Your Committee is in support of these efforts and looks forward to a review of the Department's report to the Legislature.

 

     In addition, your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Incorporating language from S.C.R. No. 177, which requests the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to provide statistical data to the Legislature on the homestead program for the period 2000 through 2010;

 

     (2)  Adding language to request the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to provide statistical data for the period 2000 through 2010, on infrastructure and other expenditures and on the number of awards and applicants offered homestead awards for:  residential, pastoral, agricultural, and aquacultural homesteads; vacant improved lots; improved homes; self-help home-building strategies; and undivided interest programs;

 

     (3)  Amending its title accordingly; and

 

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     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. 159, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 159, S.D. 1.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

BRICKWOOD GALUTERIA, Chair