STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1297-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2001

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2001, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE BANYAN DRIVE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Waiakea Community Development District;

(2) Establish the Waiakea Community Development District Special Fund; and

(3) Specify the powers and duties of the Hawaii Community Development Authority with respect to the Waiakea Community Development District.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority; Department of Research and Development of the County of Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Lodging & Tourism Association; and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Chamber of Sustainable Commerce; Kupuna for the Moopuna; Malu ʻAina Center for Non-violent Education & Action; Na Wai Hoʻola Nui Laʻau Lapaʻau Foundation; Waiākea Ahupuaʻa Crown Land Heirs; Keaukaha Action Network; Truth For the People; and eight individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Banyan Drive Hawaii Redevelopment Agency.

Your Committee finds that the Waiakea peninsula, which includes Banyan Drive, holds historic and cultural significance to the island of Hawaii. Your Committee also finds, however, that this area requires focused revitalization to address existing conditions of blight, which have hindered the area's potential and diminished its value to the community. Your Committee further finds that this measure seeks to regain state control over lands within the district and provide continuing oversight and maintenance of the district, which are essential for the successful renewal and transformation of this important area.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the Community Advisory Council;

(2) Requiring the Waiakea Community Development District resident representative to be also a lineal or cultural descendant with ties to the Waiakea ahupuaa;

(3) For the Waiakea Community Development District resident representative position, requiring the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to submit a list of nominees to the Hawaii Community Development Authority for submission to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(4) Changing its effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(5) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider whether there may be a title issue with respect to the district name in this version of the 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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2001, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2001, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair