HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

154

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS to REPORT ON THE STATUS OF WAIMEA VALLEY.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, in late 2005, as a culmination of efforts by the City and County of Honolulu to condemn Waimea Valley, the City entered into a tentative agreement with the private owner of the valley that would have broken up the valley and allowed some limited, but expensive, homes to be built in the valley; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 2006 a settlement involving the State, City, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and the United States Army, the valley was purchased and title to the valley was transferred to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; and

 

     WHEREAS, since mid-2003, the National Audubon Society has been operating and maintaining the valley on a month-to-month basis; and

 

     WHEREAS, since the title to the valley transferred to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, negotiations continued with the National Audubon Society regarding a long-term agreement for its continued stewardship of the valley; and

 

     WHEREAS, unfortunately in January 2007, the National Audubon Society announced that it was terminating its negotiations with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs due to differing management and oversight needs of the two organizations; and

 

     WHEREAS, Waimea Valley is a valuable asset to the entire State and its proper stewardship is a statewide concern; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is requested to report to the Legislature at its earliest convenience on the status of the future operation and maintenance of Waimea Valley; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Waimea Valley