STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3197

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 46

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 46 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ENDORSING AND SUPPORTING THE ALA WAI WATERSHED PARTNERSHIP AND REQUESTING A REPORT ON PROGRESS MADE BY THE PARTNERSHIP,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to endorse and support the Ala Wai Watershed Partnership and request a report on its progress in increasing resilience and sustainability of the Ala Wai Watershed and raising financial support for the Partnership.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawai‘i Green Growth, and one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from Kanehili Cultural Hui.

     Your Committee finds that the United States Army Corps of Engineers in partnership with the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency hosted the "Hawaii Disaster Risk Workshop:  Mitigating Catastrophic Disaster Risk and Building Resilience in the Ala Wai Watershed" which resulted in the formation of the Ala Wai Watershed Partnership.  The Partnership is a voluntary group of state, county, federal, business, and nongovernmental leaders with the goals of mitigating catastrophic natural disaster risk and improving the resilience and sustainability of the Ala Wai Watershed.  Your Committee further finds that state endorsement and support of the Partnership will ensure progress of critical flood risk reduction objectives, promote and strengthen public-private and multi-agency partnerships, and bring attention to the importance of the resiliency of the Ala Wai Watershed.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 46 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture,

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair