WHEREAS, Kunia Camp (Camp), located in Kunia, Oahu, has been home to numerous Del Monte plantation workers and retirees for several decades; and

WHEREAS, the rent at the Camp has continued to be very affordable to residents, even with recent increases; and

WHEREAS, Del Monte's lease with the landowner of the Camp, the James Campbell Estate, expires in December 2008; and

WHEREAS, approximately 500 people live in the Camp, many of whom are Del Monte employees who will be terminated from employment, and the remainder are retirees; and

WHEREAS, at the end of the lease, the property must be restored to the same condition it was received, meaning that the Camp will have to be razed; and

WHEREAS, many of the residents of the Camp, particularly the retirees, cannot afford accommodations outside of the Camp; and

WHEREAS, for this reason, the residents, together with elected officials, are searching for options, including the formation of the Kunia Camp Association (Association), to possibly assume the lease for the Camp property at least until 2008, the expiration of the lease for Kunia lands; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature is also considering having the State assume ownership of the Camp land through various means and options; and

WHEREAS, the residents of the Camp are open to exploring any option that would allow them to remain at the camp until other affordable housing is found; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, that this body hereby requests that Del Monte continue to operate the Camp until at least December 2008, or, in the alternative, offer financial assistance to aid residents of the Camp seeking housing solutions; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this body hereby requests the James Campbell Estate to allow residents to continue to reside at the Camp by entering into an agreement to lease parcels to the Association or an entity of the Association's choice until at least December 2008, or such time as the residents need to find housing solutions or affordable alternative housing; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Del Monte is requested to negotiate fairly with the International Longshoremen's & Warehousemen's Union (ILWU) and to consider providing benefit enhancements for severance and medical coverage to assist the employees in their transition; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that December 2008 should not be considered an absolute deadline as efforts to find long-term solutions may require more time; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, City and County of Honolulu Councilmember of the 2^nd District, Chairperson of the Wahiawa Neighborhood Board No. 26, President of the Association, Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, the Trustees of the James Campbell Estate, General Manager of Del Monte, and President of ILWU of Oahu.

Report Title:

Kunia Camp