STAND. COM. REP. NO.  690-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 2554

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2554 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAWAII COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA) to approve residential development on lands owned by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), notwithstanding the prohibition against residential development in the Kakaako-Makai area; provided that OHA conducts a public hearing prior to approval.  This measure also exempts OHA from HCDA's rules requiring dedication of land, facilities, or cash for public facilities as a condition for development.

The Aha Moku Advisory Committee; University of Hawaii at Manoa, Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work; Hawaiian Community Assets; Ali‘i Pauahi Hawaiian Civic Club; Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce; Ko‘olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club; Pearl Harbor Hawaiian Civic Club; Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs; Hawaiian Affairs Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii; Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement; Kalihi Palama Hawaiian Civic Club; and several individuals provided testimony in support of this measure.  The Kaka‘ako Makai Community Planning Advisory Council, Life of the Land, Kaka‘ako United, Friends of Kewalos, and several individuals provided testimony in opposition to this measure. The Department of the Attorney General, Na Koa Ikaika, Hawaii's Thousand Friends, and a few individuals provided comments on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2030, for the purpose of facilitating further discussion; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2554, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2554, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair