Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 917 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Governor to appoint one member of the Commission on Water Resource Management from a list of three nominees submitted by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that the sound and prudent management of all state lands and coastal resources is of critical importance to native Hawaiians both as a revenue source for their self-determination and for the preservation of their cultural and religious practices. The State's decisions concerning water use directly affect native Hawaiians. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, as the agency charged with the betterment of native Hawaiians, needs to contribute to the State's stewardship over these resources. Thus, this measure will allow the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to play a part in the process of selecting members of the Commission on Water Resource Management.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 917, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 917, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.