STAND. COM. REP. NO.  847

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 438

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 438 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE KAHO‘OLAWE ISLAND RESERVE COMMISSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to meet the unique challenges of restoring, preserving, and determining the appropriate uses of Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve by appropriating funds to the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission for projects to restore and preserve the natural, cultural, and historic resources of Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve and its meaningful and safe use by the people of Hawaii.  

The Maui County Mayor, a Maui County Council Member, Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission, Conservation Council for Hawaii, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, and several individuals supported this measure.  The Center for Hawaiian Sovereignty Studies opposed this measure.  The Office of the Auditor and the Aha Moku Advisory Committee commented on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Changing the appropriation amount to an unspecified amount to promote continued discussion; and

(2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 438, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 438, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair