HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

122

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

requesting the department of hawaiian home lands TO study the economic impact of the failure of molokai homesteaders TO receivE the legislatively allocated two-thirds of the water in the molokai irrigation system and work with the board of agriculture to maximize the benefits of the system for all users.

 

 

WHEREAS, section 168-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, provides in part that "...lessees of the Hawaiian homes commission shall at all times, upon actual need therefor being shown to the board of agriculture, have a prior right to two-thirds of the water developed for the Molokai irrigation and water utilization project by the tunnel development extending to Waikolu valley and ground water developed west of Waikolu valley..."; and

WHEREAS, the lessees of the Hawaiian Homes Commission on Molokai are not receiving the benefit of the two-thirds allocation set forth by statute; and

WHEREAS, if the lessees received the allocation that they are entitled to, the agricultural activities and resultant economic benefits to the lessees could be immeasurable; and

WHEREAS, since it was once envisioned that there was sufficient arable land on Molokai to produce enough fresh produce to supply the entire State, this increased agricultural activity on the Molokai Hawaiian Home Lands could make this vision a reality; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, that the Hawaiian Homes Commission is requested to study the possible benefits of increased agricultural activity on its Molokai lands if the lessees of those lands were receiving the two-thirds allotment of water from the Molokai irrigation system to which they are legally entitled; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaiian Homes Commission is requested to consult and work with the Board of Agriculture to ensure that:

(1) The lessees of the Hawaiian Homes Commission on Molokai receive their full allotment of water from the Molokai irrigation system;

(2) The operation and management of the Molokai irrigation system is done in a way that it maximizes the benefits of the system for all its users; and

(3) All revenues derived from water charges, including water tolls and acreage assessments, all filing fees, and fees for new service connections for the Molokai irrigation system be segregated from other revenues in the irrigation system revolving fund and used solely for the repair, maintenance, upkeep, improvement, and operation and management of the Molokai irrigation system; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaiian Homes Commission is requested to submit a report of its findings and the results of its consultation with the Board of Agriculture, together with any proposed legislation, to the Legislature not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2007; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission and the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Hawaiian Homes Commission; Board of Agriculture; Molokai Irrigation System