STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1636

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.C.R. No. 214

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Water and Land and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 214 entitled:

 

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE ‘IMILOA ASTRONOMY CENTER TO FURTHER ITS ROLE IN DEVELOPING AND LEADING EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS CONCERNING THE CULTURAL, NATURAL, AND HISTORIC RESOURCES ON MAUNA KEA AT HALE POHAKU AND ENCOURAGING THE TRANSFER OF EDUCATION OUTREACH AT THE HALE POHAKU TO THE ‘IMILOA ASTRONOMY CENTER,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Support and encourage the Imiloa Astronomy Center to further its role in developing and leading educational efforts concerning the cultural, natural, and historic resources on Mauna Kea at Hale Pōhaku; and

 

     (2)  Encourage the transfer of the education outreach efforts and operations at the University of Hawaii operated Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station Onizuka Center for International Astronomy to the Imiloa Astronomy Center.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii System.

 

     Your Committees find that the Imiloa Astronomy Center at the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station Onizuka Center for International Astronomy, also known as Hale Pōhaku or Mid-Level Support Facility, has served over one million visitors over the past thirteen years, passing on education of Native Hawaiian knowledge, culture, and history.  Imiloa has partnered with Mauna Kea Observatories to bring scientific research and discoveries to the public via education programs and collaborations.  Your Committees find that it is necessary to support the efforts of Imiloa and encourage transfer of the education outreach efforts and operations from the University of Hawaii to Imiloa and also to encourage a restructuring, so that Imiloa and the Institute for Astronomy may serve as co-equal managers of Mauna Kea Support Services.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Inserting language to request that the Chancellors of the University of Hawaii at Manoa and University of Hawaii at Hilo submit a report to the Legislature prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2020 on the restructuring of the Institute for Astronomy and the Mauna Kea Support Services at Hale Pōhaku so that the Executive Director of the Imiloa Astronomy Center is a co-equal manager, specifically in charge of community outreach and education, with the Executive Director of the Institute for Astronomy;

 

     (2)  Inserting language to request that existing astronomical facilities be engaged in contributing financial capital resources to construct the Imiloa Uka facility at Hale Pōhaku;

 

     (3)  Amending the recipients of a certified copy of this measure;

 

     (4)  Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose; and

 

     (5)  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 Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 214, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 214, S.D. 1.

 

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

 

________________________________

MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair

 

________________________________

KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair