STAND. COM. REP. NO. 135

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 1489
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Economic Development, to which was
referred S.B. No. 1489 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR OCEAN
     PROGRAMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for
PACON International, the Pacific Mapping Program at the
University of Hawaii, and for an eighteen month feasibility study
of a Waianae ocean park.

     Testimony in favor of this measure was received from
McCorriston Miho Miller Mukai, Attorneys at Law, PACON
International, and two individuals.  Testimony opposed to this
measure was received from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

     Your Committee finds that PACON International's goal is to
disseminate the latest information in marine science and
technology among marine educators, scientists, technologists, and
policy decision makers in the Pacific Basin.  In order to achieve
this goal, PACON International holds major conferences and
smaller symposia each year.  Funding is currently needed for
these conferences and symposia.

     Your Committee finds that over the last few years, PACON
International has been designing an underwater park for shallow
coastal waters that will allow visitors from land to walk, via an
underwater tunnel to an underwater structure designed for

 
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educational and research activities.  Currently, a Waianae Ocean
park feasibility study is needed.

     Your Committee finds that the Pacific Mapping Program (PMP)
was established by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to focus
on collecting, analyzing, processing, and providing ocean mapping
data to the public.  In order to meet the goals of the Pacific
Mapping Program, funding for one research position, a Director
position, and operating expenses is needed at this time. 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Economic Development that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of S.B. No. 1489 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and
be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Economic
                                   Development,



                                   ______________________________
                                   LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

 
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