STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2644

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 3

       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. 3 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO KAHANA VALLEY STATE PARK,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to reauthorize the Department of Land and Natural Resources to issue long-term residential leases to qualified persons now residing in Kahana Valley, on the condition that the lessees participate in Kahana Valley State Park's interpretive and caretaking programs.  This measure also establishes an advisory committee to, among other things, monitor compliance with the lease agreements.

     Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Department of the Attorney General.

     Your Committee finds that Act 5, Session Laws of Hawaii 1987, authorized the Department of Land and Natural Resources to issue long-term residential leases to persons who had lived continuously in Kahana Valley or had permits allowing them to reside on certain parcels of land within Kahana Valley.  As a condition of holding a lease, these qualified persons agreed to participate in interpretive programs in Kahana Valley State Park.

     The lessees have not only acted as caretakers of the Valley, but also shared their knowledge of the Valley and interpreted the significance of the Valley's resources for the public's benefit and enjoyment.  The authority to issue leases pursuant to Act 5 expired on January 1, 1992.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Amending the effective date to July 1, 2050; and

     (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. 3, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair