STAND. COM. REP. NO. 229

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 483

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 483 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FORESTRY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide that the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands may utilize Hawaiian home lands for the forestry of koa or native trees.  This measure further allows the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to enter into public-private partnerships with regard to implementing a forestry plan.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and one individual.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement and three individuals.

     Your Committees find that this measure would clarify that the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands can utilize Hawaiian home lands for forestry, something that it has in the past allowed through issuance of a license.  Your Committees note the opposition to this measure by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement on the grounds that forestry is not a purpose enumerated in the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.  However, your Committees further note the testimony of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands that the lands that would be used for forestry are lands that are not planned for residential usage.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting section 1, which would have established a new section in chapter 183, part II, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

     (2)  Adding language to allow for forestry of koa and other native trees to section 204.5 of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920, as amended.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 483, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 483, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________ LAURA H. THIELEN, Chair

____________________________ MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair