STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1352

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1424

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1424, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ACQUISITION OF RESOURCE VALUE LANDS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriate the revenues derived therefrom for the Department of Land and Natural Resources to engage in efforts, in consultation with Hawaiian Islands Land Trust, to acquire the parcel of land located at Lipoa Point, identified as TMK 2-4-1-001-010-0000.

 

     The measure also requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources, to the extent possible, to ensure that the seller of the parcel of land uses the proceeds of the sale to benefit the pension plan of retirees of the Maui Land and Pineapple Company, Inc.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Save Honolua Coalition; The Trust for Public Land; the Strategy Group, Inc.; Maui Land and Pineapple Company, Inc.; and thirty individuals.  One individual submitted written comments in opposition.  Two individuals submitted written comments.

 

     Your Committee finds that, due to its iconic reputation, Honolua Bay draws countless visitors to Hawaii, which helps generate revenue by bolstering the State's tourist industry.  Your Committee further finds that recent contemplation of zoning changes to the area have jeopardized the pension benefits for numerous retirees, as the parcel at Lipoa Point was pledged against a pension fund established by the retirees' former employer.  Your Committee believes that this measure allows the State to explore options to preserve the area's pristine condition, while ensuring the adequate capitalization of the pension fund against which the parcel was pledged.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Deleting the general obligation bond authorization and appropriation;

 

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1424, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1424, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair