STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2740

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 3037

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3037 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LIPOA POINT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to implement a management plan developed by the Hawaiian Islands Land Trust for the Lipoa Point area on the island of Maui.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaiian Islands Land Trust, Save Honolua Coalition, and four individuals.

     Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from two individuals.

     Your Committee finds that the Department of Land and Natural Resources acquired property identified as Tax Map Key No. (2) 4-1-001:010 from Maui Land and Pineapple Company, Inc., on the island of Maui pursuant to Act 241, Session Laws of Hawaii 2013.  The parcel comprises two hundred forty-four acres of highly adulterated and former agricultural land that was extensively used for the propagation of pineapple.  In 2015, the Hawaiian Island Land Trust commissioned the creation of a management plan for the parcel and requested that the Department of Land and Natural Resources give serious consideration to implementing the plan.

     Your Committee further finds that the written comments submitted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources indicate that the department has expended approximately $30,066 managing the parcel to date, including expenditures for staff time, signage, and to contract for hazard tree trimming.  The department further indicated that future funding needs for managing the parcel include $300,000 annually to contract for various property maintenance services; $323,052 annually for three conservation and resources enforcement officer positions; $400,000 for a master plan; and $200,000 for an environmental impact statement.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding an appropriation section that appropriates an unspecified sum to the Department of Land and Natural Resources to implement a management plan for Lipoa Point; and

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

     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 S.B. No. 3037, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3037, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair