STAND. COM. REP. NO. 943

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 438

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 438, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE KAHOOLAWE ISLAND RESERVE COMMISSION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to support the rehabilitation and environmental restoration of the Kahoolawe Island Reserve.

 

     Specifically, this measure appropriates funds for projects undertaken by the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission, including restoration and preservation of the Kahoolawe Island Reserve.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission, Aha Moku Advisory Committee, Mayor of the County of Maui, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Protect Kahoolawe Ohana, Historic Hawaii Foundation, The Trust for Public Lands, and eleven individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Center for Hawaiian Sovereignty Studies.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of the Auditor.

 

     Your Committee finds that this measure would provide funding for the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission to continue to undertake projects relating to the restoration and preservation of the natural, cultural, and historic resources of the Kahoolawe Island Reserve.  Your Committee notes that it heard testimony from several students who participated in projects with the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission and who were in strong support of the continuation of those programs.  Your Committee also received testimony from the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission with regard to land in its control on Maui.  Your Committee encourages the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission to continue to pursue the development of the property on Maui with the goal of generating funding for its mission.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Adding a requirement that the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission submit a financial self-sufficiency and sustainability plan to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the 2016 Regular Session; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 438, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 438, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Hawaiian Affairs,

 

 

 

________________________________

MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair