Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 115, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the mitigation of substandard soil conditions at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific and for casket liners to provide a decent burial site at the cemetery for Hawaii's veterans.

The Hawaii Department of Defense testified in support of the bill.

Your Committee finds that the high moisture content and composition of the soil at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific has caused graves and headstones to sink into unsightly holes that desecrate the sanctity of the cemetery. Accordingly, this bill will allow the state Department of Defense to repair the deteriorating columbarium area and maintain the caskets, urns, and headstones that have sunk into the soil.

Finally, your Committee strongly believes that the State has a solemn obligation to preserve the final resting place of our departed veterans in a manner befitting the supreme sacrifices that they made for this country.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 115, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.