STAND. COM. REP. NO. 783

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1154

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1154, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Establish a south Kona wilderness area on the island of Hawaii; and

 

     (2)  Provide a framework for management of the wilderness area.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from William J. Aila, Jr., Chairperson, Department of Land and Natural Resources.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from The Nature Conservancy; and Abbey S. Mayer, Vice President, Government Relations, The Resort Group-Honolulu-based.

 

     Your Committee finds that the wilderness area in the culturally and historically rich south Kona area has limited development and significant archeological sites that warrant protection and preservation.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Providing for the preservation of the biological aspects of the lands in the south Kona wilderness area;

 

     (2)  Clarifying that the limited access permitted to the south Kona wilderness area is for non-vehicular access;

 

     (3)  Deleting specific reference to camping from the list of recreational activities for which limited non-vehicular access may be permitted;

 

     (4)  Clarifying which lands within Kaulanamauna and Manuka are to be included within the south Kona wilderness area;

 

     (5)  Authorizing the Department of Land and Natural Resources to acquire private lands within the south Kona wilderness area by donation;

 

     (6)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

 

     (7)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1154, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1154, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair