STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2090

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 2603
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii



     Your Committee on Water, Land, and Hawaiian Affairs, to
which was referred S.B. No. 2603 entitled: 

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to authorize the issuance of
general obligation bonds and appropriate funds for various water
quality improvement projects benefitting the Ala Wai Watershed
and Canal.

     Testimony in support of the measure was received from the
Department of Health, the Waikiki Improvement Association, and
four private citizens.  The Department of Land and Natural
Resources could not support the measure due to a projected budget
shortfall and the existence of higher priority projects.

     Your Committee believes that the Ala Wai Watershed and Canal
are important resources for both the island of Oahu and the
immediate geographic area it encompasses.  Long term neglect of
the Ala Wai Watershed and Canal have resulted in serious
environmental and aesthetic impacts that force mitigative action.
Inaction at this juncture would result in increased costs and
irreparable damage to the watershed.

     Your Committee has amended the measure by making technical,
nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2090
                                   Page 2


     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Water, Land, and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached
to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of S.B. No. 2603, as amended herein, and recommends that
it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B.
No. 2603, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and
Means.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   COLLEEN HANABUSA, Chair

 
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