STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1133

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 73

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs and Higher Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 73 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO CONVENE MEETINGS WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO ADDRESS STEWARDSHIP ISSUES AND AFFIRM THE STATE'S COMMITMENT TO A COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE VARIED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY INTERESTED IN MAUNA KEA AND ITS UNIQUE SPIRITUAL, CULTURAL, HISTORICAL, AND NATURAL RESOURCES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to urge the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the University of Hawaii to convene meetings with stakeholders to address stewardship issues and affirm the State's commitment to a cooperative relationship with the varied members of the community interested in Mauna Kea and its unique spiritual, cultural, historical, and natural resources.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by one organization.  One state agency and one organization provided comments.  Written testimony presented to your Committees may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committees find that the University of Hawaii and the Department of Land and Natural Resources have made some positive changes to protect Mauna Kea and the Mauna Kea Science Reserve, however, your Committees believe that much more remains to be done.  The Follow-Up Audit of the Management of Mauna Kea and the Mauna Kea Science Reserve, Report No. 05-13, created pursuant to the 2005 Regular Session, Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 68, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, recommended among other things, that the University of Hawaii should revise and update planning documents, including the master plan and leases and subleases, to clearly assign roles and responsibilities for managing Mauna Kea and reflect stewardship matters resolved with the Department of Land and Natural Resources.  Your Committees believe the recommendations of the Auditor have not been fully implemented by either the University of Hawaii or the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs and Higher Education that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 73 and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs and Higher Education,

____________________________ JILL TOKUDA, Chair

____________________________ CLAYTON HEE, Chair