THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

219

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA COLLEGE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN RESOURCES TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO EVALUATE UPDATING ITS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SITES AND TO SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE REGARDING ITS WORK.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) oversees the management of eighteen agricultural research stations distributed across the islands of Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, and Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, together, these stations represent an invaluable network of research facilities that allow CTAHR to conduct not only research, but also education and cooperative extension activities to meet the diverse needs of communities and growers within their own unique environments; and

 

     WHEREAS, the effectiveness and true potential of this research network have been seriously curtailed through a lack of investment in modernizing facilities and a long history of deferred maintenance of aging infrastructure; and

 

     WHEREAS, CTAHR has been actively engaged with stakeholders at the state and national levels to build a greater awareness of its research infrastructure needs across the CTAHR network of research stations; and

 

     WHEREAS, at the state level, CTAHR is working with the University of Hawaii System and the Legislature to garner funds for strategic investments in updating aging infrastructure and modernizing research facilities; and

 

     WHEREAS, at the national level, CTAHR is working closely with its land-grant university partners to advocate for strategic federal investments in agricultural research facilities across America; and

 

     WHEREAS, this body recognizes that without strategic investments in CTAHR's agricultural research infrastructure, the institution will be left with inadequate resources, which will gradually diminish its ability to respond to the research and education needs of the islands' communities; and

 

     WHEREAS, despite CTAHR's ongoing advocacy efforts, this body finds that CTAHR's research station infrastructure needs will only become more dire if not addressed with urgency; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, that the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources is requested to convene a working group to evaluate updating its cooperative extension sites; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2024; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that CTAHR is requested to submit a report of its work, including the status of CTAHR's cooperative extension sites and staff, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2024; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the President of the University of Hawaii System, Chairperson of the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii System, and University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Dean and Director for Research and Cooperative Extension.

Report Title: 

CTAHR; Working Group; Extension Sites