STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1494-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.C.R. No. 68

      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.C.R. No. 68 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE BOARD OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO LEASE APPROXIMATELY 13.2 ACRES OF STATE‑OWNED PUBLIC LAND NEAR KE‘EHI LAGOON,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the Board of Land and Natural Resources to lease approximately 13.2 acres of public land near Ke‘ehi Lagoon to the Pacific Gateway Center for the purpose of developing the Ke‘ehi Community Resource Center.

     The Pacific Gateway Center, Oahu Head Start, and a concerned individual supported this concurrent resolution.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources supported the intent of this measure. 

     Your Committee finds that the Pacific Gateway Center and Oahu Head Start, currently operating out of dilapidated, deteriorating, and unsafe facilities, helps the community with their services to immigrants, refugees, and low-income residents, and early childhood education services.  Approximately 13.2 acres of vacant and unimproved state-owned public land near Ke‘ehi Lagoon has been proposed as the location of the Ke‘ehi Community Resource Center, which would make the resources provided by both Pacific Gateway Center and Oahu Head Start available at one location.  However, your Committee believes the State should be cautious of entering into long-term leases of prime oceanfront state land.  Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Amending the title to read:  REQUESTING THE BOARD OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO ASSIST THE PACIFIC GATEWAY CENTER IN FINDING AN APPROPRIATE LOCATION TO LEASE FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEVELOPING THE KE‘EHI COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER; and

     (2)  Requesting the Board of Land and Natural Resources to help find an appropriate location for the Ke‘ehi Community Resource Center to lease, without eliminating the possibility of leasing the Ke‘ehi Lagoon location.

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

     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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 68, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 68, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

KEN ITO, Chair