Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 1473, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide adequate notification prior to any expanded use or contemplated development of state-owned land in the Waimano Ridge area of Oahu and require the Department of Health to propose an updated master plan.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Manana Community Association, Pearl City Community Association, Pearl City Neighborhood Board number twenty-one, and six individuals. The Department of Health submitted testimony in opposition to this measure, and comments were also submitted by the Office of Information Practices.

Your Committee finds that in the early 1990s, a master plan was established for the Waimano Ridge area on Oahu. The master plan was developed through a collaborative effort between the state government and the community, designing a plan for a "totally integrated community" where activities on the state-owned Waimano Ridge lands (Waimano Ridge) would be community friendly.

Since the master plan was developed, many citizens in the community have been disturbed by the placement of a juvenile sex offender treatment facility, as well as with testing of viruses and other potentially dangerous specimens at Waimano Ridge. Your Committee finds that an updated master plan should be prepared and better public notification procedures of Waimano Ridge uses and developments should be implemented. Accordingly, this measure requires:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1473, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.