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 S.B. No. 971 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the purchase of equipment for the Molokai Irrigation System.

Your Committee received testimony in favor of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Molokai Irrigation Advisory Board, Hawaiian Research, Bill's Farm, Holden's Foundation Seeds, three members of the County Council of the County of Maui, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the Molokai Irrigation System is in desperate need of several improvements and repairs. The appropriation provided by this measure will be expended for the purposes of purchasing a back-hoe and pickup truck which are needed to repair and maintain the Molokai Irrigation System. With repairs and proper maintenance, the Molokai Irrigation System will become more efficient at a time when Molokai is suffering from severe drought conditions.

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 S.B. No. 971 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.