STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1705

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 50

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 50 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RENAMING THE NATURAL ENERGY LABORATORY OF HAWAII AUTHORITY AS THE GEORGE R. ARIYOSHI NATURAL ENERGY LAB,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to rename the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority as the George R. Ariyoshi Natural Energy Laboratory.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Blue Planet Foundation. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority.

Your Committee finds that former Governor George R. Ariyoshi, the first governor of Japanese-American ancestry in the United States, proposed various ideas to protect the islands, including the idea of "controlled growth" to limit the impact of the growing population within the islands; the State Plan, which included measures to conserve the environment; and investment in alternative and renewable sources of power, including the development of ocean technologies. Your Committee also finds that Governor Ariyoshi's vision was instrumental in developing the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii (NELH). In 1986, the Hawaii Ocean Science and Technology (HOST) Park was created under the High Technology Development Corporation as a separate entity, and in 1990, NELH and HOST Park were merged into the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) and attached to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Your Committee further finds that NELHA is involved in productive research and commercial activities that support sustainable industry development in Hawaii and provide advanced technology jobs for the local economy, which could not have been as successful without the early, visionary encouragement and support of Governor Ariyoshi. Accordingly, this measure renames the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority as the George R. Ariyoshi Natural Energy Laboratory to recognize Governor Ariyoshi for his dedication to the sustainable future of Hawaii.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 50 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism,

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GLENN WAKAI, Chair