STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1780

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: S.C.R. No. 221

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 221, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO UPDATE THE HAWAII COMMERCIAL HARBORS 2020 MASTER PLAN AND ESTABLISH A CENTRALIZED STATEWIDE CARGO AND PASSENGER SHIP ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE SCHEDULING SYSTEM TO COORDINATE AND IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF SHIP MOVEMENTS AMONG THE HARBORS OF THE STATE; AND REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF PLANNING TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF CURRENT AND ANTICIPATED HARBOR USES ON OAHU TO IMPROVE HARBOR EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purposes of this concurrent resolution are to request:

(1) The Department of Transportation to:

(A) Update the Hawaii Commercial Harbors 2020 Master Plan; and

(B) Establish a centralized statewide cargo and passenger ship arrival and departure scheduling system to coordinate and improve the efficiency of ship movements among the harbors of the State; and

(2) The Office of Planning to conduct a comprehensive study of current and anticipated harbor uses on Oahu by developing recommendations for improving harbor efficiency and effectiveness, including the optimum use of Piers 1 and 2, while maintaining options for non-cargo uses in urban Oahu.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii imports about eighty per cent of its food and merchandise, with about eighty-five per cent of that volume, including building materials, cars, and fuel, shipped by sea. Your Committee notes that the harbors of the State, particularly Honolulu Harbor, are nearing their maximum capacity, bearing a mix of cargo vessels, large passenger cruise ships, and other assorted uses. Your Committee is concerned that this mixed use of our state harbors, particularly with regard to cargo, is nearing a crisis situation.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from NCL America. Hawaii Ship Agents Association, Matson Navigation Company, Young Brothers, Limited, and the Chambers of Commerce of Hawaii all submitted testimony in support of this measure; however, they all agreed that the Department of Transportation and not the Office of Planning should be responsible for conducting the comprehensive study of current and anticipated harbor uses. The Department of Transportation submitted testimony supporting the updating of the harbor plans; however, it opposed the establishment of a centralized statewide cargo and passenger scheduling system. Finally, the Office of Planning submitted testimony in support of the overall concept of this measure; however, it expressed concern that, at present staff levels, the requirement of conducting a comprehensive study of current and anticipated harbor uses on Oahu could jeopardize the effectiveness of completing the Office of Planning's core mission assignments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by requesting the Department of Transportation, rather than the Office of Planning, to conduct the comprehensive study of current and anticipated harbor uses on Oahu. Your Committee has also made technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of style and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 221, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 221, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.

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

 

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair