STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2658

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 3151

       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 Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 3151 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION ACT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to consult with the beneficiaries of the trust established under the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act when a Hawaiian home lands project includes commercial development.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Hawaiian Homelands Assembly, Ikaika O Kalani Farms, Hui Kako‘o ‘Aina Ho‘opulapula, and two individuals.  Testimony in support of the intent of this measure was submitted by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

     Your Committee recognizes the value and importance of beneficiary input and consultation on issues and plans affecting Hawaiian homestead communities.  This is especially so where there is a commercial aspect to a proposed homestead development.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by adding provisions requiring that the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands consult with its beneficiaries prior to agreeing to lower allowable loan amounts.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3151, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3151, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

JILL TOKUDA, Chair