STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1608

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.C.R. No. 96

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 96 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF FACILITY MAINTENANCE OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU, TO IMMEDIATELY AND REGULARLY CLEAN THE DRAINAGE CANALS AND STREAMS IN KANEOHE AND KAILUA AND DEVELOP RECOMMENDED CLEANING SCHEDULES FOR DRAINAGE CANALS AND STREAMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Department of Facility Maintenance of the City and County of Honolulu, in conjunction with the United States Army Corps of Engineers and Department of Environmental Services of the City and County of Honolulu, to:

(1) Immediately clean the drainage canals and streams in Kaneohe and Kailua; and

(2) Develop recommended cleaning schedules for drainage canals and streams and regularly clean the drainage canals and streams in Kaneohe and Kailua based on this schedule.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from five individuals.

Your Committee finds that between 1915 and 2019, floods have caused more than $225,000,000 in damage on Oahu, and that a blocked drainage canal increases the risk of frequent overbank flooding. Your Committee further finds that immediate cleaning and draining of certain canals and streams is needed in the short term due to recent heavy rain in Windward Oahu and that developing a regular schedule for maintenance of drainage canals and streams can be a tool to prevent costly damage to surrounding homes and protecting lives.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 96 and recommends its adoption.

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

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair