STAND. COM. REP. NO.
Honolulu, Hawaii
APR 0 2 2025
RE: S.R. No. 137
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred
S.R. No. 137 entitled:
"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIITiN HOME
LTXNDS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A WATER ACCESS PILOT PROJECT
DEMONSTRATING THE KOHALA REGION'S CAPACITY FOR A POTABLE
WATER SYSTEM,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the
Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to develop and implement a water
access pilot project demonstrating the Kohala region's capacity
for a potable water system.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.
Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this
measure from one individual.
Your Committee finds that increased access to safe drinking
water and water for agricultural use is a matter of great
importance to the State, and particularly to rural island
communities. Your Committee further finds that the Kohala region
on Hawaii Island, which is owned by the Department of Hawaiian
Home Lands, is an ideal location for the construction of a water
pump storage hydroelectric facility, which would provide a source
of potable water, water for irrigation, and reduce energy costs in
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the region. Accordingly, this measure requests the Department of
Hawaiian Home Lands to implement a water access pilot project to
demonstrate that the Kohala mountains are an appropriate site for
a new potable water system to serve the people of the area.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report,
your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 137
and recommends its adoption.
Respectfully submitted on
behalf of the members of the
Committee on Hawaiian Affairs,
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 The Senate
Thirty-Third Legislature
State of Hawai‘i
Record of Votes
Committee on Hawaiian Affairs
HWN
Bill / Resolution No.:* Committee Referral: Date:
SA |3>
__ The Committee is reconsidering its previous decision on this measure.
If so, then the previous decision was to: ___________________________________
TheR^ommendation is:
Pass, unamended __ Pass, with amendments __ Hold __ Recommit
2312 2311 2310 2313
Members Aye Aye (WR) Nay Excused
RICHARDS. Ill, Herbert M. “Tim" (C)
SAN BUENAVENTURA, Joy A. (VC)
IHARA, Jr., Les
KEOHOKALOLE, Jarrett
DECORTE, Samantha
TOTAL
L
Recommendation: (
Adopted __ Not Adopted
Chair’s or Designee’s Signature:
Distributw"n: J ^^--Ofiginal Yellow Pink Goldenrod
—-^File with Committee Report Clerk's Office Draftina Aqency Committee File Copy
*Only one measure per Record of Votes
Revised; 12/09/24