STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2066

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.C.R. No. 90

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 90 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF THE KOHALA DITCH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Agribusiness Development Corporation to assume responsibility for the routine maintenance and repair of the Kohala Ditch, including developing and implementing a comprehensive plan for the routine maintenance of the Kohala Ditch and submitting a report to the Legislature prior to each Regular Session.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Agribusiness Development Corporation and Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau. Your Committee received comments from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that the Kohala Ditch, a twenty-six mile long irrigation ditch, has become a vital source of water for farmers and ranchers in North Kohala, but a 2021 rockslide damaged the ditch and stopped the flow of water. Consequentially, most farmers have been compelled to pay for more expensive county water, increasing operating costs and scaling back production.

Your Committee further finds that there has been $10 million allocated to the Department of Agriculture for the design and repair construction of the Kohala Ditch System which has not been released to the Kohala Ditch Co-Op, Incorporated, the intended grantee. However, the State must provide routine maintenance and repair for Kohala Ditch to resolve the current damage and avoid future water supply disruptions. Your Committee finds that the Agribusiness Development Corporation has statutory mandates to coordinate and administer programs to assist agricultural enterprises. Therefore, the repair and routine maintenance of the Kohala Ditch will further the Agribusiness Development Corporation in fulfilling its statutory mandates. This measure requests that the Agribusiness Development Corporation assume responsibility for the routine maintenance and repair of the Kohala Ditch and submit a report to the Legislature prior to each Regular Session.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 90 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Water & Land.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,

____________________________

KIRSTIN KAHALOA, Chair