THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

120

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

requesting the legislative reference bureau to conduct a study evaluating the feasibility and necessity of the creation of a mauna kea science reserve authority.

 

WHEREAS, the Hawaiian people have revered Mauna Kea since their earliest migrations began many centuries ago; and

WHEREAS, today, Mauna Kea is still considered one of the most sacred places in Hawaii and native Hawaiians consider the Mauna Kea summit to be the home of the goddess Poliahu; and

WHEREAS, Mauna Kea's unique spiritual, cultural, historic, and natural resources make it one of the most significant places on earth; and

WHEREAS, the State's Historic Preservation Office has acknowledged Mauna Kea's significance by designating the summit region as a historic district, the cluster of summit cones as a historic site; and

WHEREAS, in 1962, the world's largest stone adz quarry and Ice Age Natural Area Reserve was placed on the list of National Historic Landmarks, recognizing the importance of the mountain to Hawaii and the world; and

WHEREAS, some of the most rare, threatened, and endangered plant and animal life exist on Mauna Kea, including the threatened Wekiu bug, found nowhere else in the world and whose current population has been reduced by ninety-nine per cent; and

WHEREAS, Mauna Kea is now considered one of the world's premier astronomical sites because of the rarified atmosphere surrounding Mauna Kea that makes for excellent viewing conditions for modern astronomy; and

WHEREAS, Mauna Kea now hosts the world's premier astronomy observatories, comprised of the greatest and most advanced telescopes in the world, owned by the wealthiest nations in the world; and

WHEREAS, the astronomy research facilities located on the summit of Mauna Kea bring international status and recognition to the University of Hawaii and the Institute for Astronomy; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes the importance of supporting national and international astronomy programs and acknowledges the scientific and educational benefits that can be realized from these endeavors; and

WHEREAS, astronomy research activities on Mauna Kea and their support facilities in Hilo and Waimea are a significant local employer and valued economic activity for the island of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, unless the economic potential of Mauna Kea is fully realized and its natural and cultural resources vigorously protected, there is a risk of unduly burdening the taxpayers, straining the State's financial resources, and forever losing important natural and cultural resources; and

WHEREAS, currently, the management authority of the Mauna Kea science reserve is with the University of Hawaii's Institute for Astronomy in collaboration with the Department of Land and Natural Resources; and

WHEREAS, the Institute for Astronomy's focus and expertise is in astronomy and is headquartered at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and therefore management of the Mauna Kea science reserve is located away from the island of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, many residents of the Big Island perceive this off-island management to be insensitive to the concerns of local groups with strong interest in the mountain, including traditional culture practitioners, environmentalists, recreational users, and others; and

WHEREAS, those community members believe that the institute is uncommitted to ensuring the protection of natural resources and unconcerned with the historic preservation and the cultural value of Mauna Kea; and

WHEREAS, the Auditor previously documented in Report No. 98-6 that the University of Hawaii's management of the Mauna Kea science reserve is inadequate to ensure the protection of natural resources, with management plans often late or weakly implemented; and

WHEREAS, the current managing authority has demonstrated a lack of concern for historic preservation and the cultural value of Mauna Kea and public dissatisfaction with the current management structure for the summit of Mauna Kea has been broad-based; and

WHEREAS, it is appropriate for the management of the science reserve to be transferred to a new Mauna Kea science reserve authority; and

WHEREAS, a new and independent management authority can create and implement the necessary management and fiscal processes to receive and disburse funds and protect the important natural and cultural resources of the science reserve, with due consideration to its multiple use management objectives, and in the best interests of all concerned parties; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-Second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to conduct a study to determine the feasibility and necessity of creating a new management authority whose responsibility shall be to maintain, operate, and manage the Mauna Kea science reserve and facilities attached thereto; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to consider and address the following matters regarding the maintenance, operation, and management of the Mauna Kea science reserve in the study:

(1) Collection of rents, fees, and charges for the use or enjoyment of the reserve;

(2) Contracting authority;

(3) Rulemaking authority pursuant to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(4) Authority to hire and terminate employees;

(5) Promotion of the preservation and protection of the natural, historical, and cultural resources of the reserve;

(6) Planning, promoting, and marketing the reserve; and

    1. Any other matters deemed appropriate or pertinent to the management of the Mauna Kea science reserve; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to seek and incorporate the input from concerned residents of the Big Island in the study and its report; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to report findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2005; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Acting Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau, Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Chairperson of the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii, President of the University of Hawaii, Director of the University of Hawaii’s Institute for Astronomy, and members of Hawaii's congressional delegation.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

LRB study; Mauna Kea science reserve authority.