STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3447

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 130

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Government Operations, to which was referred S.R. No. 130 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO COLLABORATE WITH THE STATE TO EXPAND COMMUNITY GARDENING OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the City and County of Honolulu to collaborate with the State to expand community gardening opportunities for residents.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau.

Your Committees find that, in addition to other health and social benefits, community gardens can produce organic, healthy, and affordable food options, thereby contributing to the State's local food production goals. Your Committees note that there is high demand for community garden spaces among residents of the State. This measure therefore aims to provide solutions to the lack of available supply of community garden spaces on the island of Oahu.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 130 and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Government Operations,

________________________________ ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair