STAND. COM. REP. NO. 271

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1298

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred S.B. No. 1298 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Transportation to reopen Highway 132, also known as Kapoho Road.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Kapoho Land Partnership, Sunny Kapoho Citrus, Kalapana Seaview Estates Community Association, Laumana Farms, one member of the Hawaii County Council, and seventy-four individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Transportation.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee finds that the eruption of Kilauea displaced many families and caused significant damage on the island of Hawaii.  Your Committee further finds that Highway 132, also known as Kapoho Road, has been lava-locked, preventing neighbors and agricultural tenants from accessing their homes or lands.  Your Committee also finds that Kapoho Road is in a critical area for farms, with an abundance of land that grow papaya, oranges, and other types of produce.  Currently, the residents of the island of Hawaii are recovering from the devastating effects of the eruption, but are still unable to return to their homes and farms.  Your Committee believes that supporting efforts to assist families and farmers to return to their livelihood is in the best interest of the State as a whole.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1298 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

 

 

 

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair