STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3047

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 136

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 136 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO DESIGNATE THE MAGOON RESEARCH AND TEACHING FACILITY SITE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA COLLEGE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN RESOURCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the University of Hawaii to designate the Magoon Research and Teaching Facility site for use by the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Interim Dean and Director of the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Meadow Gold Dairies, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Landscape Industry Council of Hawaii, Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association, Isis Hawaii, Pacific American Foundation, Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers, Orchid Growers of Hawaii, Green Point Nurseries, University of Hawaii Graduate Student Organization, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Student Organic Farm Program, and eighty-six individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

     Your Committee finds that the Magoon Research and Teaching Facility and its unique location have been used by the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources for over forty years.  Agricultural research, education, and outreach conducted at the Magoon Research and Teaching Facility are essential to advancing the State's agriculture industry and the economy.  The University of Hawaii administration has identified the Magoon Research and Teaching Facility as a possible site for faculty housing although the administration has been presented additional ways faculty can be helped to obtain suitable housing.  Pursuing faculty housing on this site will have a negative impact not just on the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources but on the surrounding community and the State.  Your Committee strongly feels that the University of Hawaii should not build faculty housing at the Magoon Research and Teaching Facility.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the title; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 136, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Education, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 136, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,

____________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair