STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1264

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.C.R. No. 98

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 98 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR ONGOING EFFORTS TO PLAN AND DEVELOP A SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH (STEM) EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTER IN KAKA‘AKO MAKAI,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to express the Legislature's support for ongoing and collaborative efforts to plan and develop in the Kaka‘ako Makai area of the Kaka‘ako Community Development District on Oahu a science, technology, engineering, and math education and training center for the benefit of students from kindergarten to graduate levels.

The Department of Education, University of Hawai‘i, University of Hawaii's Kewalo Marine Laboratory, Hawaii's Thousand Friends, Friends of Kewalos, Kaimipono Consulting Services LLC, and three individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure.  The Office of Hawaiian Affairs submitted comments.

     Your Committee notes that several of the proponents of this measure suggested amendments to further strengthen its purpose of promoting science, technology, engineering, and math education in the State.  Your Committee finds that these suggested amendments fall within the subject matter jurisdiction of your Committee on Education and defers to the judgment of that Committee, should it consider this measure.  Further, your Committee respectfully requests that your Committee on Education consider the merits of including agricultural education and training among the purposes of the planned education and training center.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 98 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Education.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

CINDY EVANS, Chair