STAND. COM. REP. NO.  275-10

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

RE:   H.B. No. 1961

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Water, Land, & Ocean Resources, to which was referred H.B. No. 1961 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE KAHO‘OLAWE REHABILITATION TRUST FUND,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to help maintain Kaho‘olawe rehabilitation efforts by requiring ocean recreational activity business operators operating tours at Molokini Island to collect a $1 surcharge from each customer for each activity tour, to be deposited into the Kaho‘olawe Rehabilitation Trust Fund.

     The Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources; Ocean Tourism Coalition; Lahaina Divers, Inc.; and a concerned individual opposed this measure.  The Kanaka Council Moku O Keawe provided comments.

     Your Committees have amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Water, Land, & Ocean Resources that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1961, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1961, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Water, Land, & Ocean Resources,

____________________________ KEN ITO, Chair

____________________________ MELE CARROLL, Chair