STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3269

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2917

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Transportation and International Affairs and Water and Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 2917, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HARBORS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require the department of transportation to allow, under certain conditions:

     (1)  A vessel with a use permit to moor in Kewalo Basin to moor in Honolulu Harbor; and

     (2)  A vessel with a use permit to moor in Honolulu Harbor to moor in Kewalo Basin.

     Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Ocean Tourism Coalition; Paradise Cruise, Ltd.; P&R Water Taxi, LLC; Hawaii Tuna, Inc.; and one individual.

     Your Committees find that although both Kewalo Basin and Honolulu Harbor are currently under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation, there is the possibility that Kewalo Basin may be transferred to another state agency.  This measure would provide for the continuation of current operations should that transfer occur.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by clarifying that the department with jurisdiction over Kewalo Basin, rather than the Department of Transportation, shall allow a vessel with a use permit authorizing the vessel to moor in Honolulu Harbor to moor in Kewalo Basin, under certain conditions.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and International Affairs and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2917, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2917, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and International Affairs and Water and Land,

____________________________ CLAYTON HEE, Chair

____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair