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. 2785 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate $750,000 for the planning and construction of the Honomalino irrigation system in Kona, Hawaii.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, and the Honomalino Irrigation Cooperative.

Your Committee finds that the South Kona region of the Big Island of Hawaii is susceptible to long droughts, which can be devastating to farm crops produced in the area. Your Committee further finds that this region is currently not served by any public water system, although it sustains the production of various crops, including macadamia nut, Kona coffee, avocado, tropical flower, vegetable, and other crops. Assessment of the economic feasibility of constructing an irrigation system in this region has been completed which indicates that the project has a viable benefit-to-cost ratio. Upon the completion of the planning stages of the project, the design and construction phases may begin which will require adequate funding by the State to be matched by federal funds. Therefore, your Committee determines that the appropriation of funds is necessary to provide for a reliable water system to ensure agricultural sustainability in this region.

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. 2785 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.