Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1793, H.D. 2, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to direct the Department of Land and Natural Resources to enter into negotiations with the George Galbraith Trust for a land exchange of private agricultural lands situated north of Wahiawa, Oahu.

Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by a representative of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Local 142, the President of the Poamoho Community Association, and a concerned individual. The Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources submitted comments on the measure.

Your Committee was informed that Del Monte Corporation, upon terminating its lease with the George Galbraith Estate, has issued notices of eviction to the sixty families that reside in Poamoho Village. All of the residents of Poamoho Village are employees or former employees of Del Monte. Since they have very modest or fixed incomes and cannot afford to move elsewhere, their sudden displacement may contribute to Hawaii's homeless problem. Your Committee finds that the plight of the residents of Poamoho Village merits the Legislature's intervention to seek a solution to their impending eviction from their homes. Your Committee was informed, however, that the land exchange may be feasible only if suitable state lands under the jurisdiction of other state agencies, such as the University of Hawaii, can be considered for the exchange.

Accordingly, your Committee amended the measure by adding "other appropriate state agencies" to the parties involved in the negotiations for the land exchange.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1793, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1793, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.