STAND. COM. REP. NO. 81

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 544

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 H.B. No. 544 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT AT MAUNA KEA ON THE ISLAND OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriate funds for a capital improvement project for the Department of Land and Natural Resources, to be expended by the University of Hawaii, to remove the Hoku Kea Telescope from the summit of Mauna Kea.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and one individual.

Your Committee finds that this measure aligns with the University of Hawaii at Hilo's plans, pursuant to the direction of the University of Hawaii Board of Regents, to decommission the Hoku Kea Telescope.

Your Committee notes the Department of Land and Natural Resources' testimony that the summit of Mauna Kea is under a general lease to the University of Hawaii, and the Department does not play a "pass through" role for the University on this matter. As such, it is appropriate to remove the Department of Land and Natural Resources from this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Removing the reference to the Department of Land and Natural Resources;

(2) Changing its effective date to January 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making a technical nonsubstantive amendment for the purpose of clarity, consistency, and style.

As this measure moves through the legislative process, your Committee notes that the University of Hawaii estimates that the removal of the Hoku Kea telescope will cost $1,360,000. In addition, your Committee asks that consideration be given to using the decommissioned telescope as a teaching telescope at Hale Pohaku.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 544, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 544, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair