Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2400 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make an emergency appropriation of $1,600,000 to assist in the purchase and preservation of Waimea Valley on the island of Oahu.

Your Committee finds that Waimea Valley is one of the few remaining intact ahupua`a on the island of Oahu and remains a rich and sacred cultural, historic, and aesthetic resource for the entire State. This measure permits the State to contribute money toward the purchase of Waimea Valley by a consortium of nonprofit and government entities that includes the United States Army, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the City and County of Honolulu, and the National Audubon Society.

Your Committee was told by the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources that the mediator in the condemnation lawsuit brought by the city and county of Honolulu needs this bill passed to close the transaction. The Chairperson also requested that the bill pass unamended.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2400, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.