STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3324

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 55

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water and Land and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.R. No. 55 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE PURCHASE, PRESERVATION, AND RESTORATION OF AGRICULTURAL AND CONSERVATION LANDS IN MAUNAWILI VALLEY, O‘AHU, AND URGING VARIOUS FEDERAL, STATE, AND COUNTY ENTITIES TO ACQUIRE AND PROTECT IMPORTANT ANCIENT AND HISTORIC SITES AND TRAILS AND WATERS IN MAUNAWILI VALLEY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Support the purchase, preservation, and restoration of agricultural and conservation lands in Maunawili Valley; and

(2) Urge various federal, state, and county entities to acquire and protect important ancient and historic sites and trails and waters in Maunawili Valley.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Planning, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Hui Maunawili-Kawainui, Hui Kawainui-Kailua Ka Wai Ola, Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club, Halau Mōhala ‘Ilima, The Trust for Public Land, Pacific American Foundation, Kailua Historical Society, Ho‘omanapono Political Action Committee, ‘Ahahui Mālama I ka Lōkahi, Hika‘alani, and approximately twenty-five individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Kailua Neighborhood Board No. 31.

Your Committees find that Maunawili Valley contains wetlands, streams, and freshwater springs that provide most of the water that flows to the Kawainui Marsh ecosystem, and more than fifty springs and smaller streams, including Maunawili Stream, the most significant stream in the Kailua ahupua‘a. Ancient and historic sites throughout Maunawili Valley include heiau (temple or sacred site), sacred stones, petroglyphs, Hawaiian burials, alanui (path or trail), house sites, grinding stones, irrigated and dryland agricultural terraces, large ‘auwai (irrigation ditches) related to extensive lo‘i (taro patches), and nineteenth and early twentieth century structures related to agriculture and food production. There is a need to protect and conserve the Maunawili wetlands and semi-wetlands; Maunawili's Hanalei soil, which is the most fertile soil in Hawai‘i; fresh water resources; ancient and historic sites; and historic trails within the vital context of agricultural sustainability.

Your Committees further find that HRT Realty, LLC, owner of more than one thousand acres in Maunawili, has expressed interest in selling its Maunawili lands, or a significant portion thereof, to the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Department of Agriculture, which creates a prime opportunity for the State to acquire and protect these important, historical, and culturally significant lands. In partnership with The Trust for Public Land, Hui Maunawili-Kawainui, and the Kailua community, this measure provides a mechanism to secure Maunawili's irreplaceable resources for future generations.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Adding the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, and Board members of Hui Maunawili-Kawainui as recipients; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water and Land and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 55, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 55, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water and Land and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair