Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources, to which was referred H.B. No. 1476 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to ensure the unimpaired preservation of the visual, cultural, and historical aspects of the Kohala Historical Sites State Monument in North Kohala, Hawaii. This bill directs the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to acquire, through land exchange, various parcels of adjacent lands that would serve as a buffer as well as public access to the cluster of historical sites that comprise the State Monument.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Kamehameha Schools testified in support of this bill. DLNR and Mo'okini Luakini, Inc. offered comments.

Kamehameha Schools is in the process of negotiating for the acquisition of 125 acres of land surrounding the Mo'okini Heiau. This acquisition could provide a buffer of at least 100 yards of open space to the nearest boundary and would represent one-half of the buffer deemed necessary for the State Monument. Kamehameha Schools is also considering the purchase of an additional 37 acres. If both acquisitions are finalized, this would leave only 88 acres that still need to be acquired. At that point, DLNR would determine the extent to which the newly acquired lands serve as an adequate buffer and the market value of the remaining 88 acres that may still be needed for acquisition.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1476 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.