STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1645

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 115

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.R. No. 115 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO DESIGNATE KUNIA, LEILEHUA PLATEAU, AND POAMOHO AS THE CENTRAL OAHU AGRICULTURAL CORRIDOR AND TO ESTABLISH A LIST PRIORITIZING POTENTIAL AGRICULTURAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT WOULD PROVIDE THE MOST VALUE TO THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Department of Agriculture to:

(1) Designate Kunia, Leilehua Plateau, and Poamoho as the Central Oahu Agricultural Corridor; and

(2) Establish a list prioritizing potential agricultural infrastructure improvement projects that would provide the most value to the State.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee acknowledges that since the downsizing of Hawaii's pineapple industry, both the State and private landowners have diversified farming on former pineapple plantation lands. Your Committee finds this trend to be beneficial and in alignment with the long-term agricultural vision of the State. Your Committee further finds that more developed and diversified farming in Hawaii requires new infrastructure, including roads and water systems. Therefore, this measure urges the Department of Agriculture to designate Kunia, Leilehua Plateau, and Poamoho as the Central Oahu Agricultural Corridor and requests the Department of Agriculture to establish a list prioritizing potential agricultural infrastructure improvement projects.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 115 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair