STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2452

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2189

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2189 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MAKUA,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish the Makua Valley Reserve Commission to oversee preservation and restoration efforts in Makua valley on the island of Oahu.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by seven individuals.  Testimony in support of the intent of this measure with recommended amendments was submitted by Earthjustice, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, American Friends Service Committee, and one individual.  Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

     Your Committee finds that Makua valley is rich in cultural resources and history.  The creation of a Makua Valley Reserve Commission would provide a sensible and sensitive approach preserving the valley's cultural resources and history.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Expanding the commission to ten members and requiring that the membership of the commission include:

          (A)  A member of Hui Malama O Makua;

          (B)  A member of Koa Mana; and

          (C)  A representative of families that were evicted from Makua valley or whose lands in Makua valley were condemned by the federal government.

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2189, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2189, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water and Land,

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair