STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3361

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2721

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2721, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LIPOA POINT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to address the management of Lipoa Point on the island of Maui.

     Specifically, this measure:

     (1)  Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to implement a management plan, developed by the Hawaiian Islands Land Trust, for Lipoa Point; and

     (2)  Appropriates funds to maintain and protect the area, develop a master plan, and prepare an environmental impact statement.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Aha Moku Advisory Committee.

     Your Committee finds that, pursuant to Act 241, Session Laws of Hawaii 2013, the Department of Land and Natural Resources acquired a parcel of land located at Lipoa Point, identified as Tax Map Key No. (2) 4-1-001:010, from Maui Land and Pineapple Company, Inc.  Your Committee also finds that the Department of Land and Natural Resources lacks the funding necessary to develop a master plan and environmental impact statement or to secure and maintain such a vast area.  Your Committee notes that the Department of Land and Natural Resources has requested an appropriation of $1,225,000 to fund, among other things, three full-time equivalent (3.0 FTE) Conservation and Resources Enforcement Officer III positions.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the appropriation amount and the number of conservation and resources enforcement officer positions to unspecified amounts; and

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2721, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2721, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair