STAND. COM. REP. NO. 320

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1598

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1598 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR PLANS AND CONSTRUCTION FOR THE PUNA RECREATIONAL COMPLEX IN PAHOA, HAWAI‘I,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the County of Hawaii for the plans, design, and construction of the Puna recreational complex.

     This measure appropriates $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2007-2008, for a grant-in-aid to the County of Hawaii.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the County of Hawai‘i, Department of Parks and Recreation.

     Your Committee finds that the Puna district has been the fastest growing district within Hawaii county, yet the level of service relative to public recreational facilities has not been able to keep pace with the increasing demand.  Ever increasing home and land values in the State and Hawaii County have transformed the Puna district into one of the last and most attractive affordable real estate markets on the island.  The proposed Pahoa recreational complex will include a full gym, ball fields, and numerous other amenities.  The complex will be located adjacent to the county's new Pahoa police and fire stations currently under design and is envisioned to be a tremendous asset to the Puna district as a new multi-purpose park.  The location of the new site will allow for easy ingress and egress directly on to the Keaau-Pahoa highway, making access to the site safe, quick, and convenient for all of the district's population.

     The intent of your Committee is to appropriate funds to the County of Hawaii for the plans, design, and construction of the Puna recreational complex.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1598 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair