STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2841

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2733

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2733, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PUBLIC TRUST LANDS SETTLEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Resolve claims and disputes relating to the portion of income and proceeds from the lands of the public land trust for use by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs between November 7, 1978, and July 1, 2008; and

     (2)  Fix prospectively, the minimum amount of income and proceeds from the lands of the public land trust that are to be paid to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs at $15,100,000 annually.

     The Department of the Attorney General, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce, Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association, Joseph Kealoha, Inc., Dowling Company, Inc., and one hundred four individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure.  Na Koa Ikaika o Ka Lahui Hawaii and one individual submitted testimony in opposition to this measure.

     Your Committee finds that this measure represents the terms of an agreement proposed by the Governor and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to resolve claims and disputes arising from the portion of income and proceeds from the lands of the public trust for use by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, between November 7, 1978, and July 1, 2008.

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure by making numerous technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2733, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2733, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair