STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1546

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 201

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Water and Land and Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 201 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TASK FORCE TO STUDY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE RE-USE OF R-1 WATER FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES IN CENTRAL OAHU,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish a task force to consider and make recommendations on the re-use of R-1 water for agricultural purposes in Central Oahu.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure, as introduced, from three individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

     Prior to the hearing on this measure, your Committees made available for public review a proposed S.D. 1, which deletes the contents of this measure, as introduced, and replaces them with language to request the Department of Land and Natural Resources to negotiate in good faith with the County of Hawaii to lease to the County of Hawaii:

     (1)  Mauna Kea State Recreational Area, identified as tax map key SRA 4-4-16:03 por., located in the County of Hawaii, including land located within Mauna Kea State Recreational Area that is used for roads, streets, or highways; and

     (2)  Hapuna Beach Park, identified as tax map key SRA 6-6-02:35 and 6-06-02:41 por., located in the County of Hawaii, including land located within Hapuna Beach Park that is used for roads, streets, or highways.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of the proposed S.D. 1 from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i, and Hawai‘i County Council.  

     Your Committees find that the County of Hawaii is an appropriate steward of the Mauna Kea State Recreational Area and Hapuna Beach Park.  Leasing, rather than transferring in fee simple, the Mauna Kea State Recreational Area and Hapuna Beach Park to the County of Hawaii ensures that the public lands are held, managed, and operated for the public's best interest, while yielding income to the County of Hawaii and the State of Hawaii.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by adopting the proposed S.D. 1 and further amending the measure by deleting the reference to the blank percentage of gross revenues to be deposited into the state parks special fund and replacing it with a reference to an agreed-upon percentage.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water and Land and Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 201, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 201, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water and Land and Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair

____________________________ MALAMA SOLOMON, Chair