STAND. COM. REP. NO.  568-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2704

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2704 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HA`IKU VALLEY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to preserve and protect the historic and cultural resources of Ha‘iku Valley on the island of Oahu by establishing the Ha‘iku Valley Cultural Preserve Commission (Commission) to oversee policy and management of the Ha‘iku Valley Cultural Preserve (Preserve).

     The Ko‘olau Foundation, Ko‘olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources and Department of Hawaiian Home Lands supported the intent of this measure.  The Office of Hawaiian Affairs supported this bill with amendments.  Several concerned individuals submitted comments. 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Providing for representation of the kupa‘aina families living on the kuleana lands in Ha‘iku Valley on the Commission; and

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

     Your Committee finds that Ha‘iku Valley is rich in historic and cultural value.  The establishment of the Preserve and Commission will help to protect and preserve these cultural resources.  To ensure the involvement of the members of the Hawaiian community who know most about the area and will be affected most by the plans, such as those living in the Ha‘iku Valley area, in the preservation of the area's traditional and historic resources, the Commission membership should be increased to adequately represent the members of the community.

     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. 2704, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2704, H.D. 1, 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