STAND. COM. REP. NO.  583

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 844

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 844 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY IN WAHIAWA, OAHU,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to protect Lake Wilson, located in Wahiawa on the island of Oahu, as an agricultural irrigation asset and outdoor park and water recreation site.  Half of the land beneath Lake Wilson is currently owned by the George Galbraith Trust (Galbraith Trust), which is scheduled to terminate in April 2007.  This bill would appropriate an unspecified sum to:

     (1)  Acquire the property beneath Lake Wilson and appurtenant lands from Galbraith Trust through purchase or donation;

     (2)  Undertake measures to ensure that the earthen Wahiawa Dam is properly maintained; and

     (3)  Plan for the future uses of Lake Wilson for recreational purposes.

     The Wahiawa Community and Business Association and Dole Food Company Hawaii testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), the Agribusiness Development Corporation, and Bank of Hawaii as the trustee of the trust established by the Estate of George Galbraith (deceased) provided comments. 

     Your Committee notes a concern was raised that DLNR may not be the appropriate agency to be made responsible for the management and maintenance of a dam and irrigation reservoir, as they are not part of the objectives, visions, or missions of DLNR.  Your Committee believes that the management and maintenance may be better regulated by the Agribusiness Development Corporation. 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 844 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

KEN ITO, Chair