STAND. COM. REP. NO.  356

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 659

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Tourism & Culture and Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 659 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TARO,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to formally recognize the importance of kalo (taro) to the cultural heritage of Hawaii by designating kalo as the official plant of the State. 

     The Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Pearl Harbor Hawaiian Civic Club, Hawaiian Civic Club of Hilo, and numerous concerned individuals supported this bill.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to January 1, 2025, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for style, clarity, and consistency.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Tourism & Culture and Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 659, as

amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 659, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Tourism & Culture and Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________ KEN ITO, Chair

____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair