STAND. COM. REP. 755

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.B. No. 523

H.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 523, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL TOURISM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to diversify Hawaii's tourism experience by clarifying that agricultural tourism is a permissible use within the state agricultural district. This bill allows agricultural tourism activities to be conducted on working farms for the enjoyment, education, and involvement of tourists, provided that it does not interfere with surrounding farming operations.

The Department of Agriculture, Land Use Commission, and Hawaii Tourism Authority testified in support of the bill with amendments. The Office of Planning and Hawaii Agricultural Research Center supported the intent of this bill. The County of Hawaii Planning Department, Maui County Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, and an individual offered comments.

Your Committee has amended this bill to clarify that agricultural tourism activity is accessory and secondary to the principal agricultural use. This ensures that:

(1) The counties will continue to regulate accessory uses on agricultural lands pursuant to section 205-5(b), Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

(2) Agriculture remains the primary activity on agricultural lands.

Technical, nonsubstantive amendments were also made to correct technical drafting errors.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 523, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 523, H.D. 2.

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

 

____________________________

DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair