Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 1063 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for a tropical golf course and landscape management program at the University of Hawaii.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from American Society of Landscape Architects – Hawaii Chapter, Ko Olina Resort & Marina, Hawaii Island Landscape Association, Hualalai Resort, Kauai Nursery & Landscaping, Inc., Irrigation Hawaii Limited, JKMD, Inc., Puanani Landscape/Maintenance, Inc., and one individual. The Department of Agriculture and the University of Hawaii (UH) college of tropical agriculture and human resources (CTAHR) supported the intent of this measure.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii's unique climate, soils, and environment present obstacles for local golf course management because the needs of tropical golf courses differ from conventional courses in temperate climates. The lack of expertise has created a shortage of local experts in this field. Your Committee further finds UH can address this shortage of local expertise by establishing a tropical golf course and turfgrass management program and by hiring individuals with tropical golf course expertise for two faculty positions.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1063, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1063, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.