STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1440-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.C.R. No. 306

      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 Transportation, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 306 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF PLANNING TO ESTABLISH A TEMPORARY HAWAII SUSTAINABLE INTERISLAND TRANSPORTATION TASK FORCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to protect efficient and affordable transport between islands by establishing a temporary Hawaii Sustainable Interisland Transportation Task Force (Task Force).

     The Nature Conservancy, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, and a concerned individual testified in support of the measure.  The Hawaii Harbor Users Group supported the concurrent resolution with amendments.  The Department of Transportation opposed the measure.

     Hawaii is unique in that it is the only island state in the nation and modes of transportation between islands are limited.  Maintaining a sustainable interisland transportation system is necessary for the benefit of all of Hawaii's residents.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requesting the Task Force to take into consideration, and work in consistency with, the Hawaii State Plan, specifically section 226-17, Hawaii Revised Statutes, in conducting its work; and

     (2)  Including, in the Task Force's scope of work, that the Task Force ensure:

          (A)  That the flow of commerce is not impeded; and

          (B)  The economic feasibility for a sustainable, multi-             modal, inter-island transportation system.

     Other technical, nonsubstantive amendments were also made for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 306, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 306, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair