STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1613

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 659

       H.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 659, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TARO,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish kalo, or taro, as the official state plant of Hawaii.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by three individuals.

     Taro is sacred to Native Hawaiians and is an integral part of the Native Hawaiian culture.  Taro is a culturally significant plant to the kanaka maoli, Hawaii's indigenous people.  According to the kumulipo, the Hawaiian creation chant, Hawaiian genealogy emerges from the kalo plant.  Taro holds great cultural and historic meaning to Native Hawaiians and is highly respected.  Your Committee finds that establishing the kalo plant as the official state plant will ensure continued respect for this sacred ancestor of the Native Hawaiian people.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 659, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN, Chair