Report Title:

Hawaii County; Panaewa Zoo; National Tropical Rainforest

Description:

Establishes a task force to review the feasibility of planning and developing a self-financing national tropical rainforest at the Panaewa rainforest zoo on the Big Island.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1000

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to Panaewa rainforest zoo.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that for many years, the county of Hawaii has applied general fund revenues to maintain its small rainforest zoo in Panaewa. Elsewhere, cities and counties across the nation have successfully spun off municipal zoos to the private management of zoological societies. While the Panaewa rainforest zoo has much charm and a dedicated volunteer base, it represents a chronic and arguably non-essential cost to Hawaii county taxpayers. At the same time, the zoo enjoys many strategic advantages. It is located on the island's only four-lane highway (Hwy. 11) en route to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park just four miles from the Hilo International Airport. It is five miles from the Banyan Drive hotel district, six miles from cruise ships, and is adjacent to the State of Hawaii's Waiakea forest reserve.

The legislature further finds that the Panaewa rainforest zoo could be expanded into a more conceptual "national tropical rainforest" attraction. With greater emphasis on flora, the Panaewa site could be the centerpiece of a living laboratory in tropical species preservation. Its relationship to the Waiakea Forest Preserve and timber interests could provide a model for tropical rainforest timber management. With dialogue among the department of land and natural resources, the Society for Conservation Biology, the University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources, the Kohala Center, and the United States Department of Agriculture's Pacific Basin Center for Agricultural Research, the mission and venues of the Panaewa site may be thoughtfully expanded. The theme of rainforest species preservation may also garner federal and private research institution funds.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish a task force to review the feasibility of planning and developing a self-financing national tropical rainforest at the Panaewa rainforest zoo in the county of Hawaii.

SECTION 2. National tropical rainforest task force. (a) There is established a temporary task force within the office of the governor to review the feasibility of planning and developing a self-financing national tropical rainforest at the Panaewa rainforest zoo in the county of Hawaii.

(b) The task force shall consist of the following members to be appointed by the governor:

(1) The chairperson of the board of land and natural resources or the director's designee;

(2) The dean of the University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources or the dean's designee;

(3) The director of the United States Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center of the United States Department of Agriculture or the director's designee;

(4) The executive director of the Kohala Center or the executive director's designee;

(5) The president of the Society for Conservation Biology or the president's designee;

(6) The director of the Panaewa rainforest zoo or the director's designee; and

(7) A resident of the county of Hawaii.

(c) In carrying out its duties under this section, the task force may request staff assistance from the department of land and natural resources and other appropriate state agencies.

(d) The members of the task force shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

(e) The task force shall:

(1) Review the feasibility of expanding the Panaewa rainforest zoo in the county of Hawaii into a national tropical rainforest attraction;

(2) Review the feasibility of incorporating into the Panaewa site such elements as tropical species preservation and tropical rainforest timber management;

(3) Seek public and private sources of funding, including federal and private research institution funds, to allow the national tropical rainforest to be self-financing; and

(4) Report its findings and recommendations, including any proposed implementing legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days before the convening of the regular session of 2004.

(f) The task force shall cease to exist upon the adjournment sine die of the 2004 regular session of the legislature.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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