STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1375-04
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2004
RE: H.C.R. No. 73
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2004
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committees on Agriculture and Labor and Public Employment, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 73 entitled:
"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING DEL MONTE AND THE GALBRAITH ESTATE TO ALLOW RESIDENTS TO CONTINUE TO RESIDE AT POAMOHO CAMP UNTIL AT LEAST DECEMBER 2005, TO ALLOW THE RESIDENTS TIME TO FIND HOUSING SOLUTIONS OR AFFORDABLE ALTERNATIVE HOUSING,"
beg leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to express legislative support for the approximately 300 residents of Poamoho Camp (Camp) to continue to live on the Camp until at least December 2005, to allow for sufficient time to seek housing solutions or affordable alternative housing.
This measure requests:
(1) Del Monte to continue operating the Camp until at least December 2005, or offer financial assistance to aid in the current residents' searches for housing solutions; and
(2) The Galbraith Estate to consider leasing the 90-acre camp parcel to the Poamoho Camp Residents Association or an entity of the Association's choice until at least December 2005.
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142, Poamoho Community Association, Hawaii State AFL-CIO, Ilocos Surian Association of Hawaii, Filipino Coalition for Solidarity, Tagalog Association of Oahu, Inc., and many concerned individuals and residents of the Camp submitted testimony in support of this measure.
Your Committees find that Del Monte Fresh Produce Hawaii has decided to close operations and terminate its lease on Poamoho lands in Wahiawa, including the Camp, which is home to approximately 300 employees and their families, as well as retirees who have lived on the camp for generations. Subsequently, in February 2004, the residents of the Camp were given notice to vacate their homes or be evicted by June 30, 2004.
Your Committees further find that while the families of current workers need to look for alternative sources of income during their search for new housing, retirees on fixed incomes will also experience great difficulty in finding affordable housing, especially in these times and with such short notice.
The Camp is one of few remaining plantation communities in the State, and your Committees find that it is in the State's best interest to support all efforts to preserve this important living piece of our pineapple legacy.
As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Labor and Public Employment that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 73 and recommend its adoption.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Labor and Public Employment,
|
____________________________ MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair |
____________________________ FELIPE P. ABINSAY, JR., Chair |