Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2693 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to direct the Department of Land and Natural Resources to investigate the various community-based sponsorship options prior to commencement of the Army Corps of Engineers' planned Helemano-Paukauila-Kaukonahua watershed management project scheduled on or after October 1, 2004.

Additionally, this measure appropriates funds for a university graduate assistantship to develop and transfer watershed stewardship information and technologies under the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

The investigation to be conducted by Department of Land and Natural Resources specifically includes: a community-based information campaign in the affected communities regarding upcoming federal project activities and sponsorship options; identifying flood concerns of residents and businesses in regard to flooding, damages due to past flooding, and opportunities to mitigate floods in the future; and information gathering for research and analysis of the affected area.

Your Committee finds that, in addition to relieving flooding problems on the north shore of Oahu through a community-involved process, the study produced by this measure will be beneficial and adaptable to all communities suffering flood problems throughout the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubtantive changes for the purposes of clarity and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2693, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2693, S.D. 1.