STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1528-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.R. No. 182

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Corrections, Military, & Veterans, to which was referred H.R. No. 182 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO CONDUCT PUBLIC FORUMS TO SOLICIT INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY REGARDING THE LEASE OF STATE LANDS TO THE MILITARY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request that the Department of Land and Natural Resources conduct public forums in communities adjacent to large parcels of state lands that are currently leased to the military and that have leases that are scheduled for renewal or expiration within the next ten years.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one member of the Hawai‘i County Council and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Hawaii Military Affairs Council.

Your Committee finds that Article XI, section 1, of the Hawaii State Constitution provides that the State and its political subdivisions shall conserve and protect Hawaii's natural beauty and all natural resources, and that all public natural resources are held in trust by the State for the benefit of the people. With sixty-five-year leases to the military due to expire within the next several years, your Committee further finds that it is time to evaluate whether those leases should be renewed or the land returned to the people of Hawaii. This measure promotes increased opportunities for the voices in surrounding communities to be heard and considered.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Corrections, Military, & Veterans that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 182 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Corrections, Military, & Veterans,

____________________________

TAKASHI OHNO, Chair