Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1423 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the issuance of $2,000,000 in general obligation bonds and make an appropriation for planning and design for Pulelehua Elementary School, a new elementary school in west Maui.

Testimony in support of the measures was submitted by the Mayor of the County of Maui and Maui Land and Pineapple Company, Inc.

Your Committee finds that there is no elementary school in the growing area of Honokowai-Napili and the two existing Lahaina complex elementary schools will soon be over their capacity. The department has stated that is planning to build a new elementary school at west Maui in 2011, and is agreeable to building the new school in Pulelehua. However, with the growing population, there is a sense of urgency in the acceleration of the timetable to construct new facilities. For example, in the 2004-2005 school year, one class at King Kamehameha III School had to start its year underneath a tent. This is not an optimal educational environment. Your Committee finds it appropriate to expedite the construction of needed facilities more conducive to learning.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1423 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.