Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 125 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to demonstrate the Legislature's support for Project Ka Hale Pono's petition to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for a parcel of land to build a youth center.

Testimony in support of the general intent of the measure was received from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

Your Committee finds that the community of Anahola on the island of Kauai has expressed serious concerns for its youth over the issues of poor school performance, substance abuse, and family dysfunction. Through a series of meetings, the community of Anahola articulated the need for a safe haven for youth to study and learn, for adults to participate in job training and skills building, and for families to come together and network with each other.

Through a highly collaborative and inclusive process, Project Ka Hale Pono has brought together the resources of government, education, communities and private agencies to develop plans for a youth center in Anahola, Island of Kauai. This group, known as Anahola Based Community Development, is developing an application for federal funding to build the youth center.

Once completed, the youth center, to be known as Ka Hale Pono, will serve as a venue for needed services in the community, including after-school programs, family computer literacy classes, health services, informational sessions on college opportunities and financial aid, life skills training and training for workforce development.

Although your Committee believes the adoption of this measure will demonstrate the Legislature's support for the project, as well as reaffirm the State's commitment to improving the quality of life for our citizenry, it is aware of a dilemma facing the Anahola community in obtaining a site for the youth center.

It has come to the attention of your Committee that the Hawaiian Homes Commission is considering the possibility of temporarily situating the youth center on a residential parcel of Hawaiian Home Lands that has two houses situated on the site. These houses could be used by the Hawaiian Homes Commission to award the lot to a Hawaiian Home Lands wait list candidate. Although supporting Ka Hale Pono is the intent of your Committee, your Committee is concerned over the loss of immediately habitable residential homesteads in the Anahola area and therefore requests the Hawaiian Homes Commission to take this into consideration when making its final decision on this matter.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 125 and recommends its adoption.