STAND. COM. REP. NO. 62-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.B. No. 2185
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B.
No. 2185 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC LANDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide an alternative for
transportation in West Maui when Honoapiilani Highway is
impassable by authorizing the development of a heliport on the
Olowalu Sanitary Landfill site.

     Your Committee finds that the West Maui community is
frequently isolated by brushfires, high waves, and major traffic
accidents when it becomes necessary to close Honoapiilani
Highway, which is the major route for ingress and egress to other
parts of Maui.  This situation causes inconvenience, and
sometimes economic loss, for residents, prevents visitors from
leaving or arriving at hotels, and prevents emergency medical
attention.  Your Committee further finds that the provision of a
heliport would be one solution to help this community cope with
emergencies.

     This bill authorizes the County of Maui to lease by direct
negotiation and enter into an agreement with a private developer
to provide a heliport at the Olowalu Sanitary Landfill.  All
funds from the leasing of this area will be used for maintenance
of the landfill.


 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 62-00
                                 Page 2

 
     Testimonies in support of this measure were received from
the Office of the Mayor, County of Maui, and from Landtec, Inc.
which offered suggestions for amendments.  The Board of Land and
Natural Resources cited reasons for not taking a position. 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by making the following
amendments:

     (1)  Stating that helicopter operations have been developed
          on former landfills on the mainland;

     (2)  Stating that the leasing of portions of the landfill
          site is consistent with the Executive Order because the
          revenues will be used to reduce the County's costs in
          maintaining the site;

     (3)  Requiring approval of the lease by the Board of Land
          and Natural Resources to be consistent with chapter
          171, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

     (4)  Stating that funds from the leasing of the area are to
          be used for the maintenance of the landfill and subject
          to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, as
          amended, and section 5(f) of the Admissions Act of
          1959; and

     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for
          purposes of style, clarity, and consistency.
      
     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 H.B. No.
2185, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second
Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2185, H.D. 1, and
be referred to the Committee on Water and Land Use.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   KENNETH T. HIRAKI, Chair