STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1568

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 137

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.R. No. 137 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A WATER ACCESS PILOT PROJECT DEMONSTRATING THE KOHALA REGION'S CAPACITY FOR A POTABLE WATER SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to develop and implement a water access pilot project demonstrating the Kohala region's capacity for a potable water system.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that increased access to safe drinking water and water for agricultural use is a matter of great importance to the State, and particularly to rural island communities. Your Committee further finds that the Kohala region on Hawaii Island, which is owned by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, is an ideal location for the construction of a water pump storage hydroelectric facility, which would provide a source of potable water, water for irrigation, and reduce energy costs in the region. Accordingly, this measure requests the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to implement a water access pilot project to demonstrate that the Kohala mountains are an appropriate site for a new potable water system to serve the people of the area.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 137 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Hawaiian Affairs,

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HERBERT M. RICHARDS, III, Chair