STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3127

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 135

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Water and Land and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 135 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE KAHO‘OLAWE ISLAND RESERVE COMMISSION TO PLAN FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ITS KIHEI PROPERTY TO PROVIDE A SENSE OF PLACE THAT REFLECTS THE CULTURE, HISTORY, AND TRADITION OF NATIVE HAWAIIANS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission (Commission) to plan for the development of its Kihei property to provide a sense of place that reflects the culture, history, and tradition of Native Hawaiians.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission and two individuals.

     Your Committees find that in 2000, the Commission prepared an environmental assessment to evaluate the potential impacts of the Commission's long-term plan for the subject property, including an office and information center, boathouse and storage facility, and native Hawaiian plant nursery.  A Finding of No Significant Impact was published in May 2000, which allowed the boathouse project to proceed.

     According to testimony of the Commission, the Commission envisions its Kihei site as the future gateway to Kaho‘olawe, allowing both residents and visitors to learn about the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve and eventually to visit the island.  The long-term plans for the site consist of a new office and information center that will house the Commission's permanent offices.  The Commission's current offices are located in leased spaces in the Wailuku Industrial Area.

     Your Committees believe that the proposed new office and information center should have a sense of place to reflect the culture, history, and tradition of Native Hawaiians, as the purposes for which the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve is to be used, pursuant to section 6K-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, include the preservation and practice of all rights customarily and traditionally exercised by native Hawaiians for cultural, spiritual, and subsistence purposes, and preservation and protection of the Reserve's archaeological, historical, and environmental resources.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water and Land and Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 135 and recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water and Land and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________ MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair

____________________________ MALAMA SOLOMON, Chair