STAND. COM. REP. NO. 185

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1200

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 1200 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO A SMALL BOAT HARBOR IN SOUTH PUNA,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds for the design and construction of a small boat harbor in South Puna.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Laakea Community LLC and six individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

 

     Your Committee finds that Puna is the fastest growing district in the county of Hawaii, with a population of 45,326, according to the 2010 United States census, and is expected to grow to approximately 75,000 by 2030.  Puna is also becoming increasingly popular as a tourist attraction as it is near Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and is a world renowned destination for ecotourism and personal development opportunities.

 

     Your Committee further finds that the district of Puna needs a new small boat harbor to service residents, particularly those living south of the anticipated lava flows.  Lava flow is incredibly unpredictable, leaving Puna residents in constant fear of their community being cut off from supplies and services.  Currently, the Puna coast has only one option, Pohoiki Boat Ramp, which is too small for commerce.  The closest commercial harbor to Puna is Hilo Harbor, a trip that takes approximately six to eight hours round trip from South Puna and requires a great amount of fuel.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Amending the purpose of the authorization for the issuance of general obligation bonds to the conducting of a feasibility study for a small boat harbor in South Puna; and

 

     (2)  Removing language in the purpose section relating to how long the construction of a harbor would take.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1200, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1200, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water and Land,

 

 

 

____________________________

LAURA H. THIELEN, Chair