STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2334

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 3073

       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 Higher Education and the Arts, to which was referred S.B. No. 3073 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT HILO,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a school of aviation at the University of Hawaii at Hilo to offer a bachelor of science degree in aeronautical science and to appropriate the funds necessary for implementation of the degree program.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii at Hilo, Department of Transportation, and one individual.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from four individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from two individuals.

     Your Committee finds that strong support exists throughout the State for Hawaii to establish an aviation program to provide Hawaii's youth with the opportunity to pursue professional aviation careers within the State.  Aviation is essential to this island state and its economy, and creating a local aviation program will strengthen the State's aviation capabilities and attract students from throughout the country and the Pacific region.  A collegiate flight program will also help address a severe pilot shortage that is pending nationwide and provide Hawaii with a reputation in the aviation field.

     Your Committee notes that the introducer of this measure, the late Senator Gilbert Kahele, was a strong supporter of creating an aviation school at the University of Hawaii at Hilo and had devoted time and effort to the initiative over the final few years of his life.  Your Committee heard testimony, however, expressing concerns about the location of the school of aviation and which island would be the most appropriate to house the program.

     Multiple testifiers indicated that the most successful and economical aviation program would be a four-year bachelor's degree program at the University of Hawaii's West Oahu campus for the following reasons: the weather on Oahu is more conducive to flight training than the weather in Hilo; Hilo airport lacks the infrastructure for an aviation program whereas the University of Hawaii already has a hangar at Kalaeloa airport on Oahu with classrooms and facilities that the University only pays one dollar per year to lease.  In addition, the majority of flight school students are financially-constrained and a program in Hilo would create the extra cost of room and board for many students.  It may also be more challenging for students to find jobs in Hilo to support themselves while enrolled in school.  Your Committee also received testimony that the Honolulu Community College flight program that was recently terminated had many interested students but the program could not succeed financially as a two-year program and did not produce employable pilots because modern day airlines require a four-year college degree.

     Your Committee has considered all of the testimony as well as the history of this measure and wishes of the late Senator Kahele.  Your Committee recommends that the University of Hawaii establish a school of aviation in Hilo but consider moving the program to the University's West Oahu campus in the future where the program could operate more cost effectively for the State and for enrolled students.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount; and

     (2)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3073, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3073, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education and the Arts,

________________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair