Report Title:

Appropriation; Lake Wilson

Description:

Makes an appropriation to acquire real property in Wahiawa, Oahu, underlying lake Wilson and surrounding lands.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2756

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to land.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the body of water in Wahiawa, commonly referred to as lake Wilson, is on real property owned by the George Galbraith Trust and an affiliate of Castle and Cooke Hawaii. The sole trustee of the Galbraith Trust has confirmed that, in accordance with law, the trust is to terminate in April 2007, liquidate all its assets in Hawaii, and distribute the liquid assets to the beneficiaries of the trust. Accordingly, the trustee intends to sell the land that the trust owns under lake Wilson. However, lake Wilson remains an agricultural irrigation asset of the other half owner of the lands under the lake, Castle and Cooke.

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, the earthen Wahiawa dam on Kaukonahua stream that creates lake Wilson is classified "high hazard", not necessarily because of the danger of an imminent failure, but due to structural and functional deficiencies and because of its precarious location. A failure of the Wahiawa dam could cause massive loss of life, injuries, and property damage to downstream areas throughout the communities of Waialua and Haleiwa.

However, the Wahiawa dam and the resulting lake Wilson symbolizes not only a potential hazard, but also a potentially valuable outdoor park and water recreational opportunity, each of which would be a matter of statewide significance.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate moneys to acquire the real property beneath lake Wilson and appurtenant lands to ensure that the earthen Wahiawa dam is properly maintained and to explore the possible future recreational uses of lake Wilson.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, to acquire real property in Wahiawa, Oahu, underlying lake Wilson and other lands necessary to effectuate the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.

INTRODUCED BY:

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