STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3207

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 68

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 68 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS TO DEVELOP A PLAN FOR ITS FIVE HUNDRED ELEVEN ACRES OF THE FORMER GALBRAITH ESTATE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs:

     (1)  Develop a plan for its five hundred eleven acres of the former Galbraith Estate that includes the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' objectives and goals of contributing to Hawaii's food self-sufficiency, and creating a sustainable and efficient model for agriculture in the State of Hawaii; and

     (2)  Report its plan to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2017.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Ho‘omana Pono, LLC; and two individuals.

     Your Committees find that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs has committed itself to advancing agricultural practices, yet the five hundred eleven acres of the former Galbraith Estate, which was acquired by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs in 2012 and could be used for agricultural production, remain unused and fallow.  This measure urges the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to promptly take advantage of this opportunity to strategically use the five hundred eleven acres of the former Galbraith Estate to make progress toward the agricultural goals of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Hawaiian Affairs and Water, Land, and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 68 and recommend that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair