STAND. COM. REP. NO.  476

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 1489

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 1489 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES FOR NATIONAL PARKS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to acknowledge and observe the importance of the national parks in Hawaii by authorizing the issuance of special license plates recognizing Haleakala National Park and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

The Mayor of the County of Maui, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Maui Tomorrow Foundation, Inc. and several concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.

     Hawaii is fortunate to have two national parks that preserve the unique environments of the Haleakala, Mauna Loa, and Kilauea volcanoes and their surroundings – Haleakala National Park and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.  Through the work of the National Park Service, millions of visitors from around the world have the opportunity to enjoy these parks and learn about the special natural resources and important cultural history of these places.  As 2016 marks the 100^th anniversary of the establishment of these national parks in Hawaii, your Committee finds that authorizing the issuance of special license plates recognizing Haleakala National Park and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park would be a fitting tribute to these locales.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1489 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

____________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair