Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2248, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to issue special purpose revenue bonds to assist Poaka, Incorporated, a State of Hawaii corporation, in planning and constructing a food processing plant, which includes freeze-drying, for coffee and other agricultural products.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Genesis, Inc. and Kona Pacific Farmers Cooperative.

Your Committee finds that most of Hawaii's seven million pounds of green coffee production is sold raw, then processed in the continental United States. This processing plant will retain and bolster a greater part of the agricultural industry here in Hawaii by adding value, increasing employment, extending shelf life, and improving sanitary 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 H.B. No. 2248, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.