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. 997 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the issuance of $30 million in general obligation bonds to provide for the infrastructure of the University of Hawaii’s West Oahu campus development.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the measure from the Acting Chancellor of the University of Hawaii-West Oahu, the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, and the Estate of James Campbell. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to the measure by one individual.

Your Committee finds that the issuance of general obligation bonds for this capital improvement project would enable the University of Hawaii at West Oahu to go forward with plans to build a new campus in Kapolei and serve as an incentive for any public-private development partnerships.

Your Committee finds that since 1976, governors, legislators, and university presidents have talked about building a four-year college in West Oahu. A generation of students has harbored the dream of a West Oahu campus while taking classes in a Manoa warehouse, in rented rooms in an Aiea commercial building, and in portable buildings squatting on either end of the Leeward Community College campus in Pearl City. The promise of a permanent campus has been made and broken repeatedly. Mr. President, this year your Committee has the commitment, the wherewithal, the funds, – the responsibility to make this dream come true and make good on all broken promises.

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. 997 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.