Report Title:

Appropriation; Waimanalo Research and Outreach Center

Description:

Makes an appropriation to finance development of a long-range plan for a Waimanalo Research and Outreach Center.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2926

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to the waimanalo research and outreach center.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the University of Hawaii (UH) can play a major role in the economies of the Pacific Rim where the world's largest and fastest-growing populations reside. As the only Carnegie I research institution in the tropics, UH can develop food production and processing models that are economically and environmentally sustainable and that are suitable for much of tropical Asia and the Pacific.

Towards this end, the UH is in discussions to establish a research and outreach center (center) that would provide secure field facilities for plant and animal biotechnology research. This center would also provide or develop:

(1) Facilities to develop integrated crop and livestock production systems;

(2) Environment-friendly production systems;

(3) Sales of seeds from crop varieties developed by the college of tropical agriculture and human resources;

(4) Programs on tropical bioremediation, agribusiness, healthy living, and human resources for families and youth;

(5) Agricultural diagnostic services for the public;

(6) Displays of tropical fruit trees, ornamental and landscape plants, and endangered native plants; and

(7) Ecosystem displays for students and ecotourists.

In this way, the center's concept is based on combining the functions of:

(1) The UH's college of tropical agriculture and human resources and the John A. Burns school of medicine; and

(2) The United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Agricultural Research Service.

When constructed, the center will consist of secured field plots and greenhouses for genetically-modified plants, offices, conference rooms, multimedia classrooms, and dormitories. The center will also provide facilities for small commercial food processing, large animal biotechnology, experimental food laboratories, and distance education.

A potential site for the center exists on lands of a former dairy that was operated by Meadow Gold Dairies in Waimanalo, Oahu. This property is conveniently located, because it is adjacent to the Waimanalo research station operated by the college of tropical agriculture and human resources. For this reason, the UH is in discussions with Meadow Gold Dairies and the department of land and natural resources to gain title to this land. If the UH were to obtain this property, it would provide the college of tropical agriculture and human resources with nearly five hundred acres of contiguous land to develop the center that would complement its academic programs at the Manoa campus.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for the UH's college of tropical agriculture and human resources to develop a long-range plan for a research and outreach center in Waimanalo.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $330,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2004-2005 to finance the development of a long-range plan for a research and outreach center in Waimanalo.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2004.

INTRODUCED BY:

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