STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2418

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2988

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Economic Development, Environment, and Technology and Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 2988 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE MACADAMIA FELTED COCCID,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to research and develop new methods of preventing and treating macadamia felted coccid infestations.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Land and Natural Resources, University of Hawai‘i System, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Hawaii Macadamia Nut Association, Royal Hawaiian Orchards, and six individuals.

     Your Committees find that macadamia nuts are among the top five grossing agricultural commodities in Hawaii.  The State harvested an estimated forty-four million pounds in macadamia nut crop for the 2012-2013 crop year.  The estimated farm value of macadamia nuts for that same year is $35,200,000.  In March 2005, the macadamia felted coccid was discovered on macadamia nut trees in South Kona, and infestations of macadamia felted coccid have now spread from South Kona to as far north as Honokaa.  This insect can cause severe damage to macadamia nut trees when uncontrolled, and the macadamia felted coccid will continue to spread to other regions and counties of Hawaii if uncontrolled and devastate the macadamia nut industry.  The implementation of this measure will assist in combating this insidious pest and protecting the health of the vital macadamia nut industry.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Economic Development, Environment, and Technology and Water, Land, and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2988 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Higher Education and the Arts and Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Economic Development, Environment, and Technology and Water, Land, and Agriculture,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair