STAND. COM. REP. NO.  96

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 205

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 205 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATED TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to promote food security and self-sufficiency, while perpetuating traditional native Hawaiian farming practices, by adding two new agricultural objectives to the Hawaii State Planning Act:

(1)  Perpetuate, promote, and increase traditional Hawaiian farming and traditional Hawaiian crops; and

(2)  Increase and develop small-scale farms.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, a Councilmember of the Kauai County Council, the Outdoor Circle, Ali‘i Pauahi Hawaiian Civic Club, the Taro Security and Purity Task Force, and many concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Agriculture provided comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 205 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Agriculture.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

KANIELA ING, Chair