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.C.R. No. 41 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Damon Estate to consider dedicating Moanalua Gardens and the Kamananui Valley to Moanalua Gardens Foundation and to assist Moanalua Gardens Foundation in setting up an endowment to ensure the gardens remain available for public use.

The Moanalua Gardens Foundation and the Moanalua Gardens Community Association submitted testimony in support of this measure.

For years, Moanalua Gardens and Kamananui valley have been opened to the public for recreational and educational purposes. The gardens and the valley were placed into a trust by Samuel Mills Damon to manage his assets after his death in 1924. However, his trust is set to terminate, and as a result, all of the trust's assets, including the gardens and the valley, are being liquidated.

This measure requests the Damon Estate trustees and beneficiaries to consider the possibility of dedicating Moanalua Gardens and Kamananui valley to a nonprofit organization. The dedication may result in some tax benefits, but more importantly, it will result in a continued social benefit for the people of Hawaii and would remain as a lasting symbol of the Samuel Mills Damon legacy.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 41 and recommends its adoption.