STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1781

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: S.C.R. No. 189

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 189, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION AFFIRMING SUPPORT FOR THE PURCHASE, PRESERVATION, AND RESTORATION OF AGRICULTURAL AND CONSERVATION LANDS IN MAUNAWILI VALLEY, OAHU TO PROTECT THE IMPORTANT ANCIENT AND HISTORIC SITES, TRAILS, AND WATERS IN MAUNAWILI VALLEY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, other relevant state entities, the City and County of Honolulu, and Hawaii's Congressional delegation to work with The Trust for Public Land and the Hui Maunawili-Kawainui to acquire the important and rich agricultural, cultural, and historic lands of Maunawili Valley.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, The Trust for Public Land, Hui Maunawili-Kawainui, Hika‘alani, Hawai‘i Land Trust, and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that HRT Realty, Inc., which currently owns over one thousand acres of agricultural and conservation lands in Maunawili Valley, is in discussions to sell several of these parcels to the Department of Land and Natural Resources and non-profit ‘āina-based educational organizations, working in partnership with various community organizations.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding Ho‘okua‘āina and Kauluakalana as partnering community organizations;

(2) Removing all references to the Department of Agriculture;

(3) Modifying the list of recipients to whom copies of this measure will be transmitted; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 189, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 189, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair