STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2724

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2730

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Higher Education and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2730 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ‘ULU,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the research, development, marketing, and conservation of 'ulu.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii System, Malama Kaua‘i, and three private individuals.

Your Committees find that 'ulu is a crop that is unique to Hawaii within the agriculture of the United States as no other state grows it. The crop holds significant potential for farmers in the state as an emerging commercial crop, especially as value-added component of the industry continues to progress.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2730 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Higher Education and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair