STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1726

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.C.R. No. 170

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 170 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE BOARD OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE TO PREPARE A FEASIBILITY PLAN FOR THE TRANSITION OF THE MANAGEMENT OF THE MAKUA MILITARY RESERVATION TO THE STATE FROM THE UNITED STATES ARMY UPON THE EXPIRATION OF GENERAL LEASE NUMBER S-3848,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Board of Land and Natural Resources to establish a task force to prepare a feasibility plan for the transition of the management of the Makua Military Reservation to the State from the United States Army upon the expiration of General Lease No. S-3848.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that the Makua Military Reservation contains approximately one hundred sites that are eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, including Hawaiian temples, shrines, and petroglyphs. Your Committee further finds that although the United States Army agreed to clear unexploded ordnance, with a focus on providing access to cultural sites in Makua, access to cultural sites was halted in 2015 after contractors were injured when unexploded ordnance was set off. With the general lease of Makua Valley to the United States Army set to expire on August 16, 2029, this measure would assist with the transition of the management of the Makua Military Reservation to the State through a feasibility plan.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee notes the Department of Land and Natural Resources' request of $300,000 annually for the costs associated with the task force requested in this measure, including the need for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position in the Chairperson's Office to perform support duties related to this measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 170, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 170, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair