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 S.B. No. 2416 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the issuance of $6,000,000 in general obligation bonds for an agricultural dual line water system to supply untreated water for irrigation purposes to farmers as a less costly means of irrigating Upcountry Kula farms.

The Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, the Mayor of Maui County, five members of the Maui County Council, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Pineapple Growers Association of Hawaii, Maui County Farm Bureau, Maui Cattlemen's Association, Waiakoa Estates Property Owners Association, Kula Community Association, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and four concerned citizens submitted testimony in support of the measure.

Your Committee finds this measure is necessary to alleviate the economic burden to farmers in upcountry Kula by creating a dual line water system that can supply less costly untreated water for irrigation purposes. Your Committee believes that this measure promotes the State's priorities by supporting and ensuring a future for agriculture in Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this measure by correcting the lapsing date for the general obligation bonds authorized to be issued under the measure.

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 S.B. No. 2416, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2416, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.