Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2901 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize issuance of general obligation bonds and to appropriate funds to construct a new research facility for the Institute of Astronomy at the University of Hawaii.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Director of the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy.

Since the dawn of man we have looked to the stars in our quest to understand our universe. Now, several thousand years after we began walking upright, we are little closer to knowing the parameters of universe than when dinosaurs roamed the earth.

Your Committee finds the science of astronomy to continue to be an invaluable pursuit, and supports this measure to facilitate construction of a new research facility.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2901 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.