Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Economic Development and Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred S.R. No. 26 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request a study regarding the feasibility of establishing a public-private partnership in developing a railroad from West Oahu through Central Oahu and to the North Shore of Oahu.

Three individuals testified in support of the measure. The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and the Department of Transportation offered comments on the measure.

Your Committees find that this feasibility study would determine the viability of developing a railroad that would function primarily as a tourist attraction, transporting tourists through the former plantation community of Waialua and disembarking in the popular North Shore town of Haleiwa. This railroad would mirror similar train attractions on the mainland which have become popular tourist attractions, generating significant amounts of revenue.

Your Committees have amended this measure by including the Hawaii Tourism Authority as part of the task force conducting this feasibility study.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Economic Development and Water, Land, and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 26, as amended herein, recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations, in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 26, S.D. 1.