Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 12 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to express legislative support for increasing the depth of Barbers Point Harbor to fifty-six feet in a single dredging operation rather than in phases.

Testimony in opposition to this measure was received from the Department of Transportation.

This measure also requests the DOT to seek matching funds to support the dredging operation.

The basis of the DOT's opposition is that this measure is not necessary, because it is currently working with the Corps of Engineers on deepening the harbor.

Your Committee finds that the State is in search of methods to diversify the tourism industry in Hawaii; one of the avenues of exploration is to authorize cruise ships to land at various ports throughout the State, including Barbers Point. When fully loaded, cargo ships currently in operation have a draft of up to forty-five feet, and cruise liners have a draft of up to thirty-four feet. Honolulu harbor can only accommodate vessels with no more than a forty foot draft. Your Committee finds that it is imperative that there be at least one port on Oahu with a deeper draft.

Your Committee has amended this measure, based upon the testimony of the DOT, to request the harbor be deepened to forty-five feet, which your Committee finds is adequate.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 12, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 12, S.D. 1.