STAND. COM. REP. NO.  231

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.B. No. 282

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Tourism & Culture, to which was referred H.B. No. 282 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ALOHA STADIUM,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to enhance the quality of life of the people of Hawaii by requiring the Governor to direct the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to:

 

     (1)  Dispose of Aloha Stadium and surrounding lands by any appropriate method, including sale, lease, or exchange of land;

 

     (2)  Acquire suitable and adequate lands in the Ewa plains or central Oahu upon which a new stadium may be constructed, by any appropriate method, including purchase, lease, or exchange of land; and

 

     (3)  Ensure that the proceeds of the sale, lease, or land exchange of Aloha Stadium and surrounding lands in paragraph (1) are to be applied to the purchase, lease, or exchange of suitable lands in paragraph (2).

 

     A concerned individual supported this bill.  The Pacific Resource Partnership supported the intent of this measure.  The Stadium Authority did not support this bill.  DLNR and the Department of Accounting and General Services opposed this bill.  The Congressman from the First District of Hawaii and the University of Hawaii submitted comments.

    

     Your Committee recognizes the complexities of the issues raised by this bill.  A careful, thorough planning process is critical in ensuring that the provisions of this bill are carried out in the most prudent manner possible.  In addition, while this measure addresses the future disposition of Aloha Stadium, your Committee finds that the needs of the existing Stadium should not be ignored.  Priority should be placed on addressing the immediate repair and maintenance needs of the Stadium.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Providing that the suitable and adequate lands acquired for the construction of a new stadium are located at an appropriate location on Oahu, instead of restricting the lands to the Ewa plains or central Oahu;

 

     (2)  Changing its effective date to January 1, 2025, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for style, clarity, and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Tourism & Culture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 282, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 282, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Tourism & Culture,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair