STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1331

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: S.R. No. 34

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.R. No. 34 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING AN ASSESSMENT OF AND IMPROVEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE MOLOKAI IRRIGATION SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to obtain an assessment of the Molokai Irrigation System (MIS) and to develop improvement recommendations for the Molokai Irrigation System.

Your Committee received testimony in favor of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Agribusiness Development Corporation, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, two members of the Maui County Council, Molokai Ranch, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the Molokai Irrigation System is heavily relied upon for water by Molokai's agriculture industry. The current state of disrepair, lack of proper maintenance, and drought conditions have caused hardship on Molokai's farmers and ranchers. This measure will accelerate efforts to relieve Molokai's agriculture industry and encourage its growth by focusing on improving the Molokai Irrigation System.

During the hearing on this measure, your Committee received testimony with concerns regarding the preferential rights of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and its lessees to the water from the Molokai Irrigation System. Based on the testimony presented and collaborative discussions between the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and other interested parties, your Committee has amended this measure by describing these preference concerns and adding that the report submitted to the legislature:

(1) Identify the expansion potential of the Molokai Irrigation System by the addition of new water sources and the appropriate size of the customer base that can be supported with due concern for the preferential rights of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and its lessees; and

(2) With respect to the assessment and improvement recommendations, address the expansion of the Molokai Irrigation System to agricultural lots belonging to Kalamaula homestead farmers.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 34, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 34, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

JAN YAGI BUEN, Chair