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. 1747 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate $900,000, to the University of Hawaii for the repair, maintenance, and operation of the Harold L. Lyon Arboretum.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii, Lyon Arboretum, University of Colorado Museum-Botany Section, Sierra Club, Na Leo Pohai, Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden, Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, Floribunda Palms & Exotics, the Steering Committee of the Lyon Arborteum, and fifty-four individuals.

Lyon Arboretum, established in 1918, consists of 193.5 acres in upper Manoa valley. It may be the only biological field research facility in a tropical rainforest owned and operated by a university in the United States. It is a repository for rare and endangered native Hawaiian plants, an educational program for children and adults, and a teaching and scientific research resource for the University. Testimony presented described Lyon Arboretum as a "rare botanical life boat," a "valuable asset," a "crown jewel," a "botanical gem in the heart of Honolulu," a "precious and delicate watershed."

The December 2004 State Auditor report admonished the University on its failed obligations to be proper stewards and the University's neglect led to mismanagement, lack of financial support, physical deterioration of the facilities, and serious safety and compliance problems.

This measure is intended to appropriate funds that are essential to the restoration of Lyon Arboretum's infrastructure. Your Committee finds that Lyon Arboretum is a resource of great value and is at the forefront of efforts to conserve and restore the highly-endangered flora of Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this measure by appropriating $900,000 for each year of the biennium.

The Committee's approval of this measure is a bold first step to allow Lyon Arboretum to recover from years of neglect and to grow towards its full potential and responsibility to our students, the State and the scientific community as well as to future generations.

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. 1747, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1747, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.