STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1168-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: S.B. No. 2191

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 S.B. No. 2191 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 construction costs of a water storage and distribution system on certain agricultural lands in Wahiawa, Oahu, owned by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Kūpuna for the Mo‘opuna, and fourteen individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that the capital improvement project in Wahiawa funded by this measure will allow the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to advance shared objectives of that office and the State in the development of these lands. Your Committee further finds that the project will promote diversified agriculture, enhance food security and climate resiliency, and protect the Kūkaniloko Birthing Stones, which are a culturally significant site.

Your Committee has amended this measure by 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 S.B. No. 2191, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2191, 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