STAND. COM. REP. NO.  105-20

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2020

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1780

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1780 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO A WATER STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR CERTAIN AGRICULTURAL LAND IN WAHIAWA, OAHU,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds for the purpose of funding construction costs of a water storage and distribution system on agricultural lands owned by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs in Wahiawa, Oahu surrounding the Kukaniloko Birthing Stones site.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and seventeen individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that agriculture is a driving component of the conceptual master plan for the area surrounding the Kukaniloko Birthing Stones.  Access to sufficient water is crucial to the realization of the plan's goals, and your Committee also recognizes the need for the water storage and distribution system to be designed and implemented to protect the Kukaniloko Birthing Stones site's physical and cultural integrity.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Inserting a blank bond issuance and appropriation amount; and

 

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1780, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1780, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair