STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1266

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 414

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

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 H.B. No. 414, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WAIPIO VALLEY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to promote the proper stewardship, preservation, and maintenance of Waipio Valley on the island of Hawaii.

     More specifically, this measure:

(1)  Establishes the Waipio Valley Advisory Commission within the Department of Land and Natural Resources for the development of a long-term plan that ensures the proper stewardship, preservation, and maintenance of Waipio Valley; and

(2)  Appropriates funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources for the design and construction of flood damage reduction and stream stabilization in Waipio Valley.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

     Your Committee finds that Waipio Valley, which traditionally served as an agricultural center on the island of Hawaii, now faces a variety of challenges, including competing land uses, visitor activities, stream water access, and flood control challenges.  Your Committee believes that long-term planning is necessary to provide proper stewardship, preservation, and maintenance of the valley.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to promote continued discussion.

     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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 414, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 414, H.D. 2, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair