STAND. COM. REP. NO.  63

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   H.B. No. 1483

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1483 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE MOLOKAI IRRIGATION SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide relief to Molokai Irrigation System (MIS) water users and carry out the objectives of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920, as amended (HHCA), by:

     (1)  Providing water to MIS users who lease tracts of Hawaiian home lands under section 207 of HHCA at a reduced rate from July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2013;

     (2)  Requiring the Department of Agriculture to forgive all past due amounts owed by Molokai homestead farmers as of July 1, 2011; and

     (3)  Appropriating funds for each year of the 2011-2013 fiscal biennium to cover MIS operational costs.

     The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Aha Kiole Advisory Committee, and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1483 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committees on Agriculture and Water, Land, & Ocean Resources.

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

____________________________

FAYE HANOHANO, Chair