STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1607

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 184

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.C.R. No. 184 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO ESTABLISH A WORKING GROUP TO EXPLORE MATTERS RELATED TO THE ALA WAI CANAL FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT PROJECT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Governor to establish a working group to explore matters related to the Ala Wai Canal Flood Risk Management Project.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Governor, University of Hawai‘i Community Design Center, Ka Lāhui Hawai‘i Political Action Committee, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Halau Ku Mana, SEEQS Public Charter School, and five individuals.

Your Committee finds that the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has coordinated with the State and City and County of Honolulu to develop a flood mitigation plan for the Ala Wai Watershed in the event of a major storm. The USACE is currently negotiating terms with the State and City and County of Honolulu to proceed with the Ala Wai Canal Flood Risk Management Project, which received approximately $345,000,000 in federal appropriations in July 2018. Your Committee further finds that while there have been opportunities for public input and engagement regarding the Ala Wai Watershed, further public engagement is warranted in order to consider concerns of the impacts and property owner displacements that will result from the flood mitigation plan proposal.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requesting that the United States Army Corps of Engineers, State of Hawaii, and City and County of Honolulu, rather than the Governor, establish a working group to explore matters related to the Ala Wai Watershed and, in particular, the Ala Wai Canal Flood Risk Management Project;

(2) Requesting that a representative of the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu's administration serve as the chair of the working group;

(3) Requesting that the working group include a representative or representatives of the School for Examining Essential Questions of Sustainability;

(4) Amending its title; and

(5) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments 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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 184, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 184, S.D. 1.

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

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KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair