Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs and Higher Education, to which was referred S.R. No. 79 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a Senate Special Committee to study the leasing of public lands comprising the Mauna Kea Summit, and to make findings and recommendations regarding the appropriate amount of lease rent to be charged for the use of those lands.

Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The University of Hawaii submitted comments.

Your Committees find that the Mauna Kea Summit lands are ceded lands under section 5(b) of the Admission Act, and accordingly the special committee should evaluate the question of appropriate lease rents in the context of the public land trust.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs and Higher Education that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 79 and recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Transportation and Government Operations.