Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2849 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to enable the Waianae Organic Agriculture Center (WOAC) to provide higher education and employment opportunities for the youth of Waianae by providing funds to meet 50 percent of its operational needs.

Nalo Farms, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, and several concerned individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure. Leeward Community College supported the intent of this measure. The College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources of the University of Hawaii offered comments.

Your Committee supports community-based partnerships like WOAC, which promotes educational and economic opportunities to at-risk youth through farming activities. Your Committee recognizes the important role of WOAC to help empower communities on the Waianae coast to become more self-sufficient and lead healthier lifestyles.

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. 2849 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.