STAND. COM. REP. NO.  127-20

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2020

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2555

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2555 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE NA WAI EHA WATERSHED,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds from the Land Conservation Fund for acquisition of a portion of the Na Wai Eha watershed in Wailuku, Maui, to protect its scenic, environmental, and cultural value.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui, Department of Water Supply of the County of Maui, two members of the Maui County Council, and one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Wailuku Water Company LLC, and The Trust for Public Land.

 

     Your Committee finds that the Na Wai Eha watershed provides significant ecological, cultural, and hydrological value to the island of Maui.  This measure appropriates funds that will allow for the preservation of a large section of the watershed in perpetuity for public recreation and benefit.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2555, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2555, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair