STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2415

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3340

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 3340 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII MAUI COLLEGE, MOLOKAI EDUCATION CENTER,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the University of Hawaii Maui College to lease 14.5 acres of land from Kamehameha Schools in Kalamaula, Molokai to expand and relocate the Molokai Education Center.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System, one individual from the Maui County Council, and Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that it is of paramount importance to ensure the necessary space and resources for Hawaii students of all ages to learn and thrive in academic environments. As sea-level rise impacts caused by climate change impact many low-lying communities across Hawaii, the State has a responsibility to ensure proper planning and resource management for the future of academic institutions and educational opportunities for the students of Hawaii.

The importance and prioritization of education has led to enrollment at near-capacity for the University of Hawaii Maui College, Molokai Education Center. As the campus faces some challenges accommodating a high volume of students, the Molokai Education Center is also located in a low-lying area susceptible to sea level rise. Relocating the Molokai Education Center would allow for the education of Hawaii's students to continue while also mitigating impacts from climate change-induced sea level rise. To address these concerns, this measure appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii Maui College to relocate the Molokai Education Center to land owned by Kamehameha Schools.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3340, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3340, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

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DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair