Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 638, S.D. 2, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is provide Molokai homestead farmers with relief from the effect of prolonged drought conditions on Molokai by appropriating $1 in general funds to pump water for the Molokai irrigation system until the reservoir water level reaches the forty-foot level.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs and three members of the Maui County Council submitted testimony in support of the bill. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands supported the intent of the bill. The Department of Agriculture submitted comments.

Your Committee finds that the Molokai irrigation system was designed to serve Molokai farmland in Ho'olehua, most of which is owned by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. This measure acknowledges the right of the lessees of the Hawaiian Homes Commission to two-thirds of the water from the Molokai Irrigation System.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 638, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 638, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.