STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3632

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 186

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Government Operations and Water and Land, to which was referred S.R. No. 186 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND GENERAL SERVICES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO WORK WITH THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO ESTABLISH A COMMUNITY GARDEN ON THE EAST LAWN OF THE STATE CAPITOL,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request that the Department of Accounting and General Services and Department of Land and Natural Resources work with the City and County of Honolulu to establish a community garden on the east lawn of the Hawaii State Capitol.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau, and Food+ Policy Internship 2024.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services.

Your Committees find that community gardens can produce substantial amounts of healthy, local produce, thereby contributing to the achievement of the State's local food production goals. Your Committees recognize that the east lawn of the State Capitol is underutilized and that establishing a community garden on this underutilized area would reaffirm the State's commitment to sustainability, community, and transparency.

Your Committees note the concerns raised in testimony that establishment of a community garden on the east lawn of the State Capitol may have structural impacts on the State Capitol's underground parking garage, including the increase in water usage to sustain the garden damaging the garage's lights and electrical wiring. Furthermore, given the historic nature of the site, consultation with the State Historic Preservation Division may be necessary. Testimony also raised concerns as to the lack of sufficient parking near the site, which may create hardship for the community to utilize the garden. Therefore, amendments to this measure are necessary to address these concerns.

Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language that references the State Capitol and its east lawn;

(2) Inserting language that requests the Department of Accounting and General Services and Department of Land and Natural Resources to work with the City and County of Honolulu to establish community gardens on underutilized public land;

(3) Amending its title to reflect its amended purpose; and

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

Your Committees note that this measure, as amended, does not condone the immediate establishment of community gardens in public infrastructure.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Government Operations and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 186, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 186, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Government Operations and Water and Land,

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

________________________________ ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair