STAND. COM. REP. 2426

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: S.B. No. 2370

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Education and Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 2370 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE WAIMANALO RESEARCH AND OUTREACH CENTER,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds for University of Hawaii to develop a long-range plan for a Waimanalo research and outreach center.

Your Committees received testimony in support of the measure from the University of Hawaii, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Board of Advisors, Dean of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Hawaii Pork Industry Association, Hawaiian Host Chocolates, Castle and Cooke Homes Hawaii, Inc., Nalo Farms, Inc., and an individual. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to the measure from Life of the Land, Center for Encounters and Active Non-Violence, Respiratory and Environmental Disabilities of Hawaii, Waikiki Hawaiian Civic club, KNOwGMOs – Oahu, Gravity Hawaii, a Waimanalo resident, three organic farmers from Waimanalo, and six individuals.

Your Committees find that diversified agriculture is an important section of the local economy and should be encouraged. Nevertheless, your Committees have strong environmental and community concerns. Your Committees hope that this project will neither repeat the environmental damage caused by the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources' existing research facility on the north shore of Oahu, nor will it compound the environmental damage, escape of trans-genes, and release of noxious odors into the Waimanalo environment as took place with previous agricultural and biotechnology efforts in that community.

Your Committees further find that these community and environmental concerns must be taken into account in the development of this project. Measures must also be taken to protect the financial security of Waimanalo's thriving organic farm industry and the safety of the food it produces.

Your Committees have amended this measure by adding a section stating that the plan for a research and outreach center shall include comprehensive research on the potential impacts of genetically modified organism research in Hawaii and recommend appropriate protocols and implementation guidelines that will ensure the integrity of locally grown food crops and indigenous plants.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Water, Land, and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2370, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2370, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Water, Land, and Agriculture,

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

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NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair