STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1485

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 150

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.R. No. 150 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT HILO TO CONDUCT AN OUTREACH PROGRAM, PERFORM A NEEDS ASSESSMENT, AND ESTABLISH A HIGHER EDUCATION LEARNING CENTER IN THE DISTRICT OF PUNA ON THE ISLAND OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request that steps be taken to establish a higher education learning center in Puna.

The measure requests:

     (1)  The University of Hawaii at Hilo to:

          (A)  Work with the United States Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center in establishing a higher education learning center in Puna;

          (B)  Establish an outreach program; and

          (C)  Perform a needs assessment for the higher education learning center; and

     (2)  The Department of Agriculture to support and assist the University of Hawaii at Hilo in establishing a higher education learning center in Puna.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from three individuals.

     Your Committee finds that rural areas in the State are in need of higher education learning centers to help improve employment and entrepreneurial activities in those areas.  Your Committee also finds that the district of Puna on the island of Hawaii is a prime location for establishing a higher education learning center.  Such a center could identify educational and training needs in the district, design a business incubator approach to support job growth in the area, and focus on outreach to increase agriculture production and processed products for local markets utilizing emerging engineering programs.  Your Committee believes that, if successful, the higher education learning center in Puna could serve as a model for other rural areas in the State.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 150 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair