STAND. COM. REP. NO. 207

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 472

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 472 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUNA,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for a feasibility and cost study relating to the construction of a new boat ramp and pier in Puna.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Malama O Puna, Aha Moku Advisory Committee, Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i, and six individuals.

Your Committee finds that recent lava flows have left the Puna district on the island of Hawaii without an accessible or usable boat ramp and pier. The old boat ramp at Pohoiki was a major economic driver for the Puna district and Hawaii island as a whole. Your Committee finds that steps must be taken to determine the best location for a new boat ramp and pier in Puna to serve the residents of the area and boost an economy and community recovering from the impacts of the lava flows. Therefore, your Committee finds it proper for the Legislature to appropriate funds for a feasibility and cost study relating to construction of a boat ramp and pier in Puna.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 472, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 472, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair