STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2190

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2303

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Economic Development and Taxation, to which was referred S.B. No. 2303 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE PACIFIC AVIATION MUSEUM PEARL HARBOR,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate $1,000,000 for the planning, design, and construction of phase 2 of the Pacific Aviation Museum at Pearl Harbor.

     Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Department of Defense; the Pacific Aviation Museum (Museum), three of its board members, its Executive Director, its Education Director, and two volunteers; The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii; the Airforce Association of Hawaii, Chapter 138; Asian Pacific Advisors; Fleet Street Graphics; and two individuals.  One individual submitted comments.

     Your Committee finds that in the first year of operation, the Museum had more than 95,000 visitors, including 4,700 school children on education field trips.  Your Committee also heard that the Museum has a grants program that allows students from Title I schools to attend free, and that approximately 300 students were able to take advantage of this last year.

     Your Committee also notes concerns raised by a citizen of Hawaii regarding the inaccuracy of a display on the crash landing of a Japanese Zero on Niihau.  Committee members understand that a meeting has been scheduled with the concerned citizen and the Museum and look forward to hearing the outcome of this meeting and the resolution of any inaccuracies.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development and Taxation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2303 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 Economic Development and Taxation,

____________________________

CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair