STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3641

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 357

       H.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Education and Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 357, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII COLLEGE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN RESOURCES TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF CONSTRUCTING A MULTIPURPOSE, MULTI-USER PROCESSING FACILITY ON THE LAND IN THE EWA, CENTRAL OAHU AREA BEING OFFERED TO THE HAWAII AGRICULTURE RESEARCH CENTER, FOR THE PRODUCTION OF VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS THAT MAKE USE OF LOCALLY-GROWN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources to study the feasibility of constructing a multipurpose, multi-user processing facility on the land in the Ewa, central Oahu area being offered to the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, for the production of value-added products that make use of locally-grown agricultural products.

     Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center and one individual.

     Your Committees find that the State must explore and support alternative initiatives to increase and grow the agriculture industry in Hawaii.  Focus on local agricultural products can result in not only local, but national and even international exposure and sales.  Your Committees further find that Campbell Estate has indicated a willingness to donate in excess of one hundred acres of farmland in Ewa for agricultural offices and agribusinesses.  This measure requests the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources to study the feasibility of constructing a multi-purpose, multi-user processing facility on the aforementioned land for the production of value-added products that utilize locally-grown agricultural products.  Your Committees believe that the study is necessary to determine the feasibility and value of such construction and undertaking by the State, which will ultimately help to improve and grow the agriculture industry in Hawaii.  Your Committees also recognize the concerns raised by the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center and the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources of the University of Hawaii at Manoa regarding the cost associated with conducting a study of this magnitude.  Although funding cannot be provided pursuant to this measure, your Committees are hopeful that the University can provide funding or make other appropriate efforts to address this important matter.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 357, H.D. 1, and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________ JILL TOKUDA, Chair

____________________________ NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair