SCR43

WHEREAS, the ahupua‘a of Makua is located on the island of Oahu within the district of Waianae and is bordered to the west by the Pacific Ocean and surrounded by the Waianae mountains to the north, east, and south; and

WHEREAS, historic records, oral histories, and archaeological studies document the cultural significance of Makua; and

WHEREAS, a number of archaeological sites have been identified in Makua, including Ukanipo heiau, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places; and

WHEREAS, Makua is also home to a number of threatened and endangered species including the elepaio and the Oahu tree snail; and

WHEREAS, in 1943, the Makua Military Reservation was established as a maneuver and impact area following the Army's use of the area for security and training operations under martial law as a result of the bombing of Pearl Harbor; and

WHEREAS, the reservation was originally comprised of 6,000 acres, but was reduced in size to 4,190 acres in 1964; and

WHEREAS, of the total area currently under the Army's control, the Army owns 170 acres in fee simple, holds 1.64 acres by license, leases 782.35 acres from the State, and has use of 3,236.48 acres of ceded lands; and

WHEREAS, eventually, the majority of the lands comprising the military reservation will revert to the State and plans for its rehabilitation and reuse must be considered in advance to ensure an expedient and comprehensive restoration can be accomplished; and

WHEREAS, although the Army has made efforts to work with the Waianae community in addressing the community's concerns, much more could be accomplished if a task force was convened to address the concerns of the community, express the responsibilities and expectations placed on the Army by its superiors in its use of Makua, and serve as a platform from which the Army and the community may work out its differences; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to convene a task force to address the concerns raised by the Waianae community and the Army over the use of Makua Valley; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force consist of seven members to be appointed as follows:

(1) One member shall be selected by and be a member of the Malama Makua;

(2) One member shall be appointed by the Governor from a list provided by the Waianae coast community;

(3) One member shall be a trustee or representative of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs;

(4) One member shall be the commanding officer of the United States Army in the Pacific, or the commanding officer's designee;

(5) One member shall be the Adjutant General of the State of Hawaii, or the Adjutant General's designee;

(6) One member shall be the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources; and

(7) One member shall be appointed by the Governor from a list provided by native Hawaiian organizations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources shall serve as Chair of the task force; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force discuss and resolve issues that include but are limited to, issues relating to the community's concern over the impact of the Army's use of Makua Valley on the area's cultural and historical value, access to culturally and historically important sites in Makua Valley, environmental concerns, community safety, and the military's requirements to ensure that the adequate training of its personnel is maintained; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the Legislature not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2009 Regular Session; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Malama Makua, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the commanding officer of the United States Army in the Pacific, and the Adjutant General of the State of Hawaii.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Makua Valley Task Force

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	43
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII