STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3030

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1553

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1553 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE AHA MOKU ADVISORY COMMITTEE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to make appropriations for the Aha Moku Advisory Committee for:

     (1)  Administrative and operational expenses; and

     (2)  Community education on the administrative structure regarding the aha moku system and on natural and cultural resource management.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Aha Moku Advisory Committee, and Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs.

Your Committee finds that the funds appropriated in this measure will be truly helpful to the aha moku system.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources has appropriated as part of the Administration's package the sum of $110,000 for the operational expenses for fiscal year 2014-2015.  However, that amount is for the salary of one position and some travel for the Aha Moku Advisory Committee to meet.  Community outreach is critical and entails public community meetings, moku meetings, and the expenses incurred in these operations.

     Your Committee has amended this measure, on the recommendation of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, by inserting appropriation amounts of:

     (1)  $75,000 for administration and operational expenses; and

     (2)  $35,000 for community education.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1553, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1553, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

MALAMA SOLOMON, Chair