STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1452

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 174

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 174 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO ASSIST THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS IN PROVIDING AN EASEMENT TO THE AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION FOR WATER IRRIGATION INFRASTRUCTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Land and Natural Resources to assist the Office of Hawaiian Affairs in providing an easement to the Agribusiness Development Corporation for water irrigation infrastructure on certain property owned by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Agribusiness Development Corporation.

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

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

     Your Committee finds that this measure is intended to address the irrigation of state-owned agricultural lands in the Central Oahu and North Shore areas.  Your Committee further finds that the maximum agricultural use of those prime agricultural lands depends on an adequate supply of irrigation water.  Accordingly, your Committee acts favorably on this 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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 174 and recommends its adoption.

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

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair