Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land Use, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 223 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Mayors of the respective counties to implement an expedited permit review process for large qualified projects.

Your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its contents and amending its title to read "House Concurrent Resolution Concerning Certain Public Leases." As so amended, this concurrent resolution requests the Department of Land and Natural Resources to authorize the cancellation of General Leases No. S-3840, S-3831, and S-4647, and to issue a new lease, subject to certain conditions.

In addition, this concurrent resolution requests the Department of Land and Natural Resources, upon determining that there is a willing and able bidder for the re-lease of the subject public lands, to auction the lands, with the understanding that the successful bidder shall pay the lessee a sum equal to the fair market value of the improvements.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources provided testimony in opposition to this measure and Kauai Beachfront Hotel offered testimony in support of this concurrent resolution.

Your Committee finds that the County of Kauai has been particularly impacted by the prolonged economic downturn, having suffered the devastating effects of Hurricane Iniki and the economic repercussions of the September 11, 2001 tragedy.

Your Committee further finds that the action requested by Kauai Beachfront Hotel would also greatly benefit the County of Kauai by saving existing jobs and helping to revitalize its local economy.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land Use, and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 223, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance, in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 223, H.D. 1.