STAND

STAND. COM. REP. 3477

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: H.C.R. No. 54

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

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.C.R. No. 54, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE HAWAII COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND COOPERATING PARTNERS TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE THE KANEOHE MEADOWLAND (HE'EIA WETLANDS),"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA) to work with the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), other cooperating partners, and the local community to protect and enhance the Kaneohe meadowland (He'eia wetlands), as part of the He'eia ahupua'a.

The Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources and the HCDA submitted comments on the measure.

Your Committee believes that transferring the management authority for the He`eia wetlands to the DLNR is appropriate in light of the established role and expertise of the DLNR in managing and protecting the State's conservation lands.

Your Committee heard the concerns of the HCDA and incorporated its suggested changes by amending the measure as follows:

(1) Changing the title of the measure, to describe more accurately the amended purpose of the measure, to read:

REQUESTING THE HAWAII COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER OWNERSHIP OF THE KANEOHE MEADOWLAND (HE'EIA WETLANDS) TO THE STATE OF HAWAII AS PUBLIC LANDS TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES FOR THE PROTECTION AND ENHANCEMENT OF THE NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES OF THE WETLANDS;

(2) Clarifying that the lands affected by the measure are only a portion of the Kaneohe meadowland and that they are owned rather than controlled by the HCDA;

(3) Clarifying that the He`eia wetlands lie outside of the HCDA's redevelopment jurisdiction; and

(4) Changing the request to the HCDA by seeking a transfer of the subject lands to the State for management and protection by the DLNR, and separately requesting the DLNR to work with cooperating partners and the local community to protect and enhance the He`eia wetlands.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 54, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 54, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture,

		____________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair