STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1622

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 194

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Education and Energy and Environment, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 194 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE MOLUCCA ALBIZIA TREE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to protect people and property by requesting the University of Hawaii to conduct a study on the molucca albizia tree.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Hawaii Forest Industry Association, Paradise Park, Inc., and the Ala Wai Watershed Association.

     Your Committees find that the molucca albizia was first introduced to Hawaii in 1917 as an ornamental tree and is now present on every island in the State.  The molucca albizia has adapted to the semi-moist areas below 1,500 feet in elevation, can grow to more than one hundred feet tall, and has soft and brittle wood that makes its large branches susceptible to breaking in high winds.  Your Committees further find that these attributes make the molucca albizia potentially dangerous to people and property in close proximity to it, including watershed areas.  This measure requests the University of Hawaii to study the molucca albizia tree to determine whether and how it may be eradicated from Hawaii.  Your Committees believe that this study is necessary to protect the health and safety of the State's residents.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by adding language to request the University of Hawaii to include in its study, an inventory of trees and necessary components for eradication pilot projects in areas in addition to Manoa and the Ala Wai watershed.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Energy and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 194, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 194, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Energy and Environment,

____________________________ RON MENOR, Chair

____________________________ NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair