STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1942

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 77

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Economic Development and Tourism, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 77, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO DESIGNATE KUNIA, LEILEHUA PLATEAU, AND POAMOHO AS THE CENTRAL OAHU AGRICULTURAL CORRIDOR AND TO ESTABLISH A LIST PRIORITIZING POTENTIAL AGRICULTURAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT WOULD PROVIDE THE MOST VALUE TO THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Agribusiness Development Corporation to designate Kunia, Leilehua Plateau, and Poamoho as the Central Oahu Agricultural Corridor and establish a list prioritizing potential agricultural infrastructure improvement projects that would provide the most value to the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Agribusiness Development Corporation; Department of Agriculture; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Larry Jefts Farms, LLC; Kunia Village Title Holding Corporation; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the State imports nearly eighty‑five percent of the food it consumes, making it vulnerable to supply chain shocks precipitated by global events such as pandemics. Your Committee further finds that to mitigate the potential disruption of food supply chains in the future, the State established a goal to double local food production by 2030. However, significantly increasing diversified farming in Hawaii will require new infrastructure, including roads and water systems integrated to match the needs of farmers. Your Committee additionally finds that some of Hawaii's largest diversified farmers operate on the central plains of Oahu, and therefore, investing in the region's agricultural infrastructure is critical for the State to increase and sustain its local food production. Accordingly, this measure supports the State's agricultural industry by requesting the Agribusiness Development Corporation to designate a Central Oahu Agricultural Corridor and create a list prioritizing the agricultural infrastructure improvement projects that would provide the most value to the State and requesting the Department of Transportation to implement certain traffic signage within the Corridor to promote safety and awareness for motorists.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requesting the Agribusiness Development Corporation to establish a list prioritizing potential agricultural infrastructure improvement projects statewide, rather than only within the Central Oahu Agricultural Corridor;

(2) Amending its title accordingly; and

(3) 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 Economic Development and Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 77, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 77, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development and Tourism,

________________________________

LYNN DECOITE, Chair