STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2712

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2667

       H.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2667, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FERRIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Transportation to conduct a study on the feasibility of establishing a statewide ferry system and ferry system authority.

     This measure also requires the study to include a review of various types of ferry systems, including passenger-only and passenger, automobile, and cargo ferry systems, that the Department determines are suitable for operations within Hawaiian waters, taking into account such parameters as vessel design and speed, passenger capacity, cargo capacity, automobile capacity, availability of smaller vessels for transportation between the islands of Maui, Molokai, and Lanai, and compatibility with harbor infrastructure.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from three individuals.  Testimony in opposition was received from Maui Tomorrow Foundation, Inc., and twenty individuals.  Comments were received from the Department of Transportation and Young Brothers, Limited.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     This measure is intended to provide the additional link essential for the carriage of persons and property between the islands of the State.  Hawai‘i is made up of a chain of islands, six of which have major population centers.  Unlike other states, Hawai‘i does not have the benefit of being linked to other states through the federal interstate highway system or a network of intersecting state and local highways and roads.  At this point, an interisland water transportation system seems to be the only sensible alternative to air transport, provided that the planning and execution is done correctly and in compliance with environmental laws.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2667, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs,

____________________________

J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair