Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water, Land, and Agriculture and Education and Science, Arts, and Technology, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 120 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a study to evaluate the feasibility and necessity of the creation of a Mauna Kea Science Reserve Authority.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Sierra Club, Mauna Kea Anaina Hou, and fifty individuals. Testimony in opposition was received from the Office of Mauna Kea Management. Comments were received from the Board of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB), Hawaii Island Economic Development Board, and Kahea, the Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance.

Your Committees find that the current management of the Mauna Kea science reserve under the University of Hawaii Institute of Astronomy, in collaboration with the DLNR, has raised concerns from community groups of the necessity for a new management authority. Your Committees are aware that there is disagreement as to the validity of statements in this measure. However, your Committees defer to findings and recommendations of the study.

The utmost concern of your Committees is to ensure that the management of the science reserve is conducted in a manner that is independent and in the best interests of the State, and that protects the area's natural, cultural, and historic resources while adequately addressing the concerns of local groups in a timely manner.

The intent of this measure is to conduct an independent study and analysis of the current management situation and alleged problems, with the result of ascertaining the best form of management authority with the responsibility to maintain, operate, and manage the Mauna Kea science reserve and facilities attached thereto.

Your Committees have amended this measure by substituting the Auditor for the LRB in conducting the study, and amending the title accordingly.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water, Land, and Agriculture and Education and Science, Arts, and Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 120, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 120, S.D. 1.