Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations, to which was referred H.B. No. 1064 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to establish a permanent intra-island water ferry through the collaborative efforts of the Department of Transportation (DOT), the counties, the federal government, and interested public and private parties.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the DOT.

The traffic congestion in Hawaii has been discussed ad nauseum in recent years, as State and local officials have debated alternative methods of transportation. Within an island, nearly every person travels solely by means of automobile. To travel between islands, air transportation is the only choice.

Your Committee knows of no other archipelago of this size where the only option to travel between islands is by airplane. Your Committee believes that a viable intra-island ferry system will get people out of their cars on Oahu, and if successful, will lead to the creation of a permanent inter-island ferry system as well. Therefore, your Committee supports this measure as a sound first step in creating a marine highway throughout the State.

Your Committee made several technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of style and clarity.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1064, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1064, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.