THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

60

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE RESOLUTION

 

Requesting a management and financial audit of the harold l. Lyon Arboretum.

 

WHEREAS, the Harold L. Lyon Arboretum is a branch of the University of Hawaii that coordinates, facilitates, and executes research, instruction, and service activities, emphasizing tropical plants, native Hawaiian plants, conservation biology, and Hawaiian ethnobotany; and

WHEREAS, the Arboretum also serves as a center for educational activities on plants, arts, culture, geography, and a range of other sciences, including biology, ethnobotany, and horticulture, and also serves the public in many ways; and

WHEREAS, the Arboretum is the only university botanical garden in the United States that is located in a tropical rainforest; and

WHEREAS, over the years, concerns have been raised regarding the operational and fiscal accountability of the Arboretum; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that, in the interest of the public, a fiscal and management audit of the Arboretum is warranted; and

WHEREAS, among other things, an Arboretum audit would help to:

(1) Verify and address any concerns and complaints raised about the Arboretum;

(2) Examine the efforts of the College of Natural Sciences, the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii, and the President of the University of Hawaii to address any alleged concerns and complaints of mismanagement;

(3) Pinpoint any areas of weakness within the Arboretum that need to be addressed;

(4) Provide a baseline assessment of any efforts and actions currently being taken by the Arboretum to address concerns and remedy any problems; and

(5) Recommend possible solutions to any concerns and problems existing at or within the Arboretum; and

WHEREAS, an Arboretum audit would further serve to improve the services and care of the Arboretum and maximize staff efficiency and the prudent use of resources by the Arboretum; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, that the Auditor is requested to perform a management and financial audit of the Harold L. Lyon Arboretum; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to address the issues raised in Resolution and other related issues and report its 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 Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Auditor, Chairperson of the Board of Regents and Chancellor of the University of Hawaii, President of the University of Hawaii, Dean of the College of Natural Sciences, and the Director of the Harold L. Lyon Arboretum.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Requesting a management and financial audit of the Harold L. Lyon Arboretum; University of Hawaii; Board of Regents.