Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on International Affairs and Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 792, H.D. 1, entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to expand the market for locally grown products, including the rainbow papaya, by appropriating an unspecified amount of funds for the development of guidelines and a marketing plan to obtain export clearances for exports to Japan and other countries.

The Center for Genomics, Proteomics and Bioinformatics Initiative at the University of Hawaii (UH), High Technology Development Corporation, Hawaii Papaya Industry Association, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Hawaii Technology Trade Association, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, and two concerned citizens supported this bill. The Department of Agriculture and Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism supported the intent of this measure.

Your Committees recognize the potential benefit to local industries of increasing exports of rainbow papayas and other products to foreign countries. Your Committees also note that testimony during the public hearing indicated that an appropriation of $100,000 would be suitable to carry out the purposes specified in this measure. In addition, your Committees received testimony affirming that matching funds from private, federal, and other sources would be available to assist in obtaining export clearances and overcoming other obstacles for exports.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on International Affairs and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 792, H.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.