Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 925, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the department of agriculture to make loans for up to $5,000,000 from the agriculture loan revolving fund or aquaculture loan revolving fund to provide assistance to the agriculture and aquaculture enterprises on Kauai.

Your Committee received testimony in favor of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Kauai County Farm Bureau, CEATECH USA, Gay & Robinson, Inc., Kauai Economic Development Board, and Kauai Chamber of Commerce.

Your Committee finds that a financial stimulus is required to assist Kauai farmers in their transition to a more diverse economy no longer centered around the sugar industry. By increasing the availability of funds for financing, this measure will provide start-up and existing businesses the assistance needed for building and expanding their various agricultural and aquacultural enterprises on Kauai.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 925, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.