STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1678

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 499

H.D. 2

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 499, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LEASE EXTENSIONS ON PUBLIC LAND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the Board of Land and Natural Resources to extend certain commercial, industrial, resort, mixed-use, or government leases that have not been sold or assigned within the last ten years for lessees who commit to making substantial improvements to the existing improvements.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Prince Kuhio Plaza; Pacific Resource Partnership; Stanford Carr Development, LLC; and two individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaiian Affairs Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Aloha Aina Party, Kupuna for the Moopuna, Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation, Ka Lahui Hawaii Komike Kalaiaina, Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action, E Ola Kakou Hawaii, Waimanalo Civic Club, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that this measure will allow the State to retain long-term lessees who are committed to maintaining and improving public lands.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

(2) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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. 499, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 499, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair