EDT-GVO, EDT-WLA, EDT DEFER, EDT-EDU DEFER Public Hearings 02-19-2026

001Aloha and welcome to a joint hearing with the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism and Commerce and Government Operations. Today is Thursday, February 19th, 2026. This is our 1 p.m. agenda and we are in conference room 29. This hearing is being streamed live on YouTube. We have a one minute time limit for all testifiers. Uh joining me today is Senator McCauley and G uh government operations uh committee. >> First up, first up, we have two bills on this agenda. First bill up is Senate Bill 2627, Senate draft 1, relating to economic development, tourism, exempts tourism authorities contracts or agreements for sports projects and events and marketing activities from the Hawaii public procurement code and all other requirements of law for competitive bidding. First up, Caroline Henderson, in President CO for Hawaii Tourism Authority. Hello,

002chairs, vice chairs, members of the committee. Um, I'm Caroline Anderson. We stand on our written testimony in support. >> Thank you. Uh next up, Bonnie Kahaku, uh State Procurement Office. >> Thank you. Uh next up, uh James Tokyo, Department of Business and Economic Development and Tourism in support. And then Ki Shizuma, individual with comments. Anybody else wishing to testify on this measure, please? >> Good afternoon, senators. Uh, for the record, Russell Homa, Ape, Kawaii, uh, author of the blueprint. Excuse me from my dress up today with my vest here looking like a biker and uh, Formula 1 racer here because I want to bring back the F1 FedEx uh, racing gear again like we did before. And uh I think we can have a venue for that. But uh I know the Hawaii Tourism Authors

003has got to promote that sports tourism here and hopefully uh we can bring the Vegas guys over here and uh kind of get I know that Vegas doesn't really think that they can proceed. So we can either win their contract and bring it over here, but we need a lot of supporters here with the the fellow policy makers so we can make this a reality. So I think that penal code uh needs to be reclassified some issues in there with the sports terrorism using the convention center as a venue as well and other means and uh thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to testify. >> Thank you Russell. Uh anybody else wishing to testify on the measure? Seeing none members any questions? >> Oh yeah. Oh >> so you you spread about

004the Formula One uh racing rate. You just said something about following Formula 1. >> Yes, sir. >> So, you know that Hawaiian Homes >> um with Pam Woody Oakland Dam is looking into making a Formula 1 track out there in uh Point. >> I heard a little bit about that, but I haven't really looked into the details, but I need they need to publicize that to the general public, I think, with the the Formula 1 industry that we're willing to have that kind of infrastructure in Hawaii. >> Yeah. So, they're they're thinking about billing it, even though I don't agree with the vendor, but hey, it's going to be a racing track. So, hopefully you guys could be able to capitalize on that and working with the tourism HDA guys and try to promote something

005over that that track. >> Yeah, I think so. I think that was that penal code that on this bill mentions about uh maybe we can do the bidding process kind of be might need to be readjusted for that matter. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Chair. >> Uh Senator Thank you, Senator Mory. Uh, Bonnie [clears throat] SPO. >> Good afternoon, senators. >> Um, so, um, going to your testimony, I I can see the problem with exempting, uh, from procurement, um, going out to bid and so forth. Um, is there any way and and knowing that the the HTA is looking for expediting especially those opportunities for sporting events and so forth, can you see a way that there could be a marriage of um some oversight or at least some way in which we curtail

006what they do so that's based on really trying to promote or get um contracts uh in place quickly for sporting events. But the marketing part might be broad. But do you have any language that you could provide for us on how we could streamline it or focus it in a little bit more? >> Thank you for the question. Yes, I think that we can work on the language. Uh I would like to see that the the way the bill is written and marketing events to me is is very broad. that could encompass just about any kind of marketing activities for conventions, for >> sporting events, for any kinds of things. So if we narrow the focus on this sporting events, sporting project events and marketing events just for related >> specifically related to the sporting

007event, I think that could be worked out. >> So you're comfortable with that? >> I would be comfortable with that. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you, chair. >> Thank you. >> Then Should we I mean consider I know um at this point might be too late but having um when this exemption is exercise notification given to you in your office >> if you put it in the bill. >> Yeah. >> They would still have to exercise >> they would have the exemption but you would be notified when they're exercising said exemption for said sporting events. It could that could be put in the put in the bill with it with the approval of your of the chief procurement officer. [clears throat] Uh just keep in mind if there is an exemption we would probably follow

008the same course that we do now which is post the exemption for a minimum of seven days so that it's available to the general public for their comment if they should have a comment. >> Okay. So that's already baked into the process now. >> That's baked into the process if they come in with an exemption. But if you leave the language just exempt for sporting events and and events and marketing activities to sporting events, then they would not come in. You would have to specifically lay out with approval of the chief procurement officer. >> Just a question to follow on. So would that delay the process or what what kind of time frame do you have? Because they're saying we got to this is time sensitive. We have to move quickly. How much of a

009time frame do you need to turn it around if they come in and we say we want to do it? >> We I think thank you for the question. So I think there's two options available. We can have it upon approval or with approval of the CPO or we can just say you have this exemption and you and you have to submit that exemption or you have to submit that uh event so that we at least have record on it and we can you know kind of spot check it. Are you >> that's the idea with behind just to have a record of it so there can be some spot checking after the fact so in case we have another blowout like what happened before there was some checks in place. >> Yeah I I

010think because if we do the exemption route then we do have that delay. We have that minimum of seven days. So if it's really timesensitive you're going to run into that issue. But if you notify the state procurement office or notify the chief procurement officer of that event, then at least they're not waiting for us to respond to them. >> But we're they're notifying us and we can always >> we can at least monitor it or we can keep track of what events are happening that are using this exemption. And if we feel if in the future there are some events that may challenge this bill, at least we can say this is what [clears throat] they reported to us and have that mechanism in place. Right now we don't have anything in place. >>

011So the language you would be looking at is reporting of um any um ex use of the exemption for sporting events. >> Correct. That would be most most expeditious as opposed to receiving a CPO approval. >> Thank you. Thank you. Thank >> any other questions. Senator Wai Anderson. >> I'm trying to find out the necessity for this measure. Can you give us an example of where there was a sporting event that we lost because we weren't quick to respond? Uh, thank you, Senator. Um, Tal I know of I'm trying to think off the top of my head. Um, but I do know that exemptions to will help us um with sporting events. I know it does take time for us to um you know negotiate uh even put out um RFPs and you know knowing

012the importance of sporting events, knowing the economic um the economic impact it has, the also um how it drives um visitation to the islands and that media exposure. It's it's important for us to act swiftly in some cases to make sure that we can um seize the opportunity for um especially um bigger sporting events to the islands. >> Yeah. I mean, can can we tighten the the language at least for the sporting events where I understand that you have to be nimble uh but in in certain sports there's only one league to go to, right? It's not like we want an NFL game. who else on the planet plays American football? Or if you go to the PGA, uh there's only one league or entity that actually, you know, uh puts on those kinds of

013global golf. So I I understand the where this could be super helpful when it's obvious there's only one entity, one NBA, one Major League Baseball League, one whatever. So that as we tighten up this language to uh Senator McKelie and Moriwah's commentary in addition say that this procurement if there's only one player out there or league out there that that would allow for you to kick in the the exemption for procurement. >> I see a soul sourcing >> tightens it that tightens it up. >> I can understand what you're saying, Senator. Um there there are instances where sorry I'm just trying to think off the top of my head. Um maybe I'll ask RCA >> right because even like with the PGA I mean although the PGA is well known in America there are other

014professional leagues that Japan has a professional league Korea has special professional league and uh in that particular case we should be exploring what other foreign leagues or organizations are out there that might respond to putting on a golf tournament rather than always we're going back to the PGA year after year after year. >> Yeah. These different organizations shop destinations when it comes to this type of events. So as an example, ESPN is looking for say a basketball or volleyball tournament. They're shopping different markets to move it and especially with NIL money in play. Uh that puts us at a dis disadvantage as well. So having the opportunity to be able to react, especially if the opportunity is in conjunction with international teams being brought in, that's why we're looking for this exemption. >> Okay. So,

015so you guys don't have a problem with us tightening up the language on just um because at this point it's sports marketing and just so we're looking at just sports um and then um sports events only along with um what procurement officer has said in her testimony. >> Okay. >> Can you guys work with that? >> Yes. >> Okay. Any other questions? >> No, that's it. Uh seeing none. Uh moving on to >> Thank you. Uh Senate Bill 2074 relating to state facilities. Um first up, uh executive director Michael for stadium authority stadium, please. >> No, thank you so much. Um Senator, thank you chair, vice chair. Um we we we stand on our written testimony and are absolutely here for um any extended comments and or any updates about how the stadium project is

016progressing itself and thank you for your continued support. >> Thank you. Next up Caroline Anderson with HTA Hawaii tourism authority chairs vice chair members of the committee stand. >> Thank you. Next up, uh, Director Tokyo, Department of Economic Development, Tourism in support. Set Kobe, budget and finance, your comments. Winston Welch, Alter Circle in opposition on Zoom. >> Yes. Aloha, chair and members, and uh, happy late Chinese New Year. Uh, you we'd like to stand on our written testimony. Just a quick reminder that uh this bill presents the same structural fiscal risk that led to failure of its house companion this year HB16009 and uh as well that uh if the tax exempt bond is just as jeopardized then we have increased statewide risk. Um it also mirrors prior concerns brought up by the attorney general

017in SB583 last year which was the primary reason that that bill was vetoed. But beyond this, this bill represents a deliberate massive shift in public policy. And for a century, Hawaii has chosen not to treat civic identity and public space as commercial inventory. These public facilities are named for people and places and culture, not corporate branding. So for both of these uh main reasons, uh whether it was the AG or the budget and finance or long-standing public policy preservation, we urge you to defer this measure. Thank you very much. Thank you. Uh, next up, uh, Angela Young. Angela Young. >> Hello, Chair. Angela Melody Young testifying on behalf of CARES in strong support. Um, naming rights legislated into statue for the Aloha Stadium and the Hawaii Convention Center will help to get funds and a

018co-management um agreement and it lessens the burden upon the state and the developers. So that is a significant um statement from ht and dbed where it says that if the IRS policy is not followed but it doesn't clarify what is the policy that it's referencing that it needs to be followed. So it can be argued that if you keep it within the threshold um the IRS rule of 10% the IRS generally permits up to 10% of taxexempt bonds proceeds to be used for private business including naming rights and we can ask what other jurisdictions has this statue and naming rights agreement worked in and for example the high mark stadium um which was um grants agreement with naming writes in New York um for the um insurance company the Blue Shield Blue Cross. >> Thank

019you. Your time is up. So it works and we your testimony in support. >> Thank you so much and I agree with Koa's testimony. Thank you. >> Thank you. Take care. Uh next up Stanford Carr uh Stanford Car Development in support. Benjamin Soroski uh for Unite here local 5 with comments. Diane Harding in opposition. Zapora Feldman in opposition. GL Hutcherson in opposition, Jack O'Neal in opposition, Lori Lloyd in opposition, and Jacqueline Wah in opposition. Anybody else wishing to testify on the measure? I see n members questions. >> I think I could ask a question. >> Senator Mory. >> Um I'm kind of thinking who um either the convention center, the stadium authority. Just just to clarify, oh >> uh Mikey Do from the City Authority Center. Thank you. >> Just to clarify, Outdoor Circle and

020a number of the environmental um organizations are are adamant that we shouldn't be putting out outdoor signage. Uh if and and part of this bill seems to be the authority to um to name name the building or name name whatever. Is it is it your understanding that if we give the name naming rights and we can do that the naming rights would be on your building and not outside outside because I think that is a real problem for the outdoor circle and many organizations is that you know you're going to spread these signs all over the place. >> Sure. No, and thank you for that question, Senator. And obviously, I cannot speak for the convention center, and I don't wish to, but just for the stadium authority itself, um, we have we believe that we

021have the right to lease the name currently. We have moved forward in the past with the Hawaiian Airlines um, sponsorship of the stadium itself. In terms of signage, we also believe that it would be incredibly advantageous for us to place signage in a manner which is inward facing to the district itself. We have members on the stadium authority per the senate that reflect the needs and represent the community itself um and claim and others who are absolutely from that IA halava area that want us to ensure that we maximize our revenue and at the same time are in keeping with the overall aesthetic of the community and the beauty of the community. Um, we believe that the stadium authority, um, has the ability to place signage that I think ultimately would please the outdoor circle

022and would be reflective of what Hava and that 98.5 acres needs. >> So, if we were to restrict this for the outdoor signage to be inwardlooking or on your building and and it's pretty wide open now that you could place it anywhere. Um you you know I I I what I would encourage is the maximum flexibility given to the stadium authority to be able to work with our development partners. Again we believe that we have community voices there so that we will place signage that will be in keeping with what the community wants and needs. We don't think that we need that level of restriction um that we can do that internally. >> So what you're hearing is from the outdoor circle that has years and years a history of keeping um signage out. Sure.

023>> Public places. So, um if you have language that will at least give you flexibility but restrict you so that you aren't like they're not thinking that you're going to go into, you know, >> okay, I I see where you're headed towards and we're absolutely willing to work with the outdoor circle on that kind of language. Um we're open to those discussions. What we do want to make sure is that our development partners have the ability to maximize their revenue sources [clears throat] and we also want to ensure you as a body that we have community voices that we will be in keeping with what the community needs and wants. >> I hope that answers but yes we're absolutely willing to work with them. >> So um could I also ask outdoor circle um pause

024on Zoom? >> I see. Can you bring outdoor circle back on? I >> you heard you heard Mr. Nadal say that they would put these signs up but it would be inward facing on the buildings. Is that something that you folks in the outdoor circle you know can live with because it's not really outdoor outdoor in the public you know on the streets and you know is that something that you know it's been done before. I mean a lot of buildings have names on it. uh the Stan Sheriff building for example at uh so um >> thank you for the question Senator uh it's very encouraging to have the stadium authority and we appreciate that that offer. Um that said it if we're actually enacting legislation it should be precise to uh reflect exactly that

025and our primary concern absolutely is the exterior facing what the public sees. So if it's on the inside of the stadium and that's what people are paying to look at on the inside that that are we don't have the objection with that. So we are happy to work with them but if we're putting this into some sort of code then we should actually codify what what we're talking about here. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you Senator >> Senator. Yes S. You know, the a study was done about three years ago about the value of a naming rights contract, and it came back at the time at about $1.5 million a year for 20 years. That'll give you an extra $30 million. What that $30 million buy for us as the public for

026a better stadium? >> It buys a tremendous amount. So, for instance, our private sector development partners having access to greater pools of money to increase this number to 650 million for a total stadium has allowed for us to go to 31,000 seats, allowed for us to go to individual seating and not bench seating. I can't specifically say what 30 million buys, but it continues to keep us on that track towards a bigger and better stadium that we can provide for the people of Hawaii and for the University of Hawaii as well. Do you know of any major stadium in America that has just a standalone name? Los Angeles Stadium, Chicago Stadium. I mean, what stadiums that are venues that attract big-time events have just no corporate sponsorship names on them? >> I'm not aware of

027any. Um, naming rights is a Lambo, right, with with with with Green Bay. Um, I guess that would be the only one that offhand that I'm aware of. That'd be something we'd be happy to look into. But naming rights [clears throat] is a pretty common practice. For instance, the crypto arena in Los Angeles, you know, paid a lot of money to be able to call itself as such. SoFi, Allegent, um, Levi, this is a pretty common practice in the industry and it allows for marketing in a non-obtrusive, nonobnoxious kind of a way and also raises money for the stadium itself. I mean, SoFi has a $30 million a year contract for 20 years. $600 million is what SoFi pays to put their name on that stadium. And in this particular legislation, it's pretty clear that

028all we're doing is naming rights. You can put your company name or your logo and that's it. It's not going to be like Allegiant Field where you have a video display as kind of a a billboard digital display. It's just >> static. It's a name of whoever is the highest bidder. naming rights very similar to or at least the way that we read it is it's very similar to the way Hawaiian Airlines had it previously or the way that others have it with Stan Sheriff >> and then let's say looking at what this outdoor circle's arguments were that they don't want any names on any buildings in in Hawaii >> would you be open if they bid $2 million and they say that they don't want to put any names on the side of the

029stadium for 20 years would you take that 2 million bucks a year for 20 years right they can bid right if they want the name no name on They can be a bidder and say, "I'm going to give you stadium money. I mean, stadium whatever, and I'm not going to put my name on there." Right. That's a way for them to be helpful in this conversation. >> I I Senator, I I I do agree with you. I think that they can absolutely bid um should this move forward, they can claim the naming rights and then choose not to put any signage. Um what we care about the [snorts] stadium authority and with our development partners is that we maximize revenue and if they're willing to put that revenue forward, we're willing to to move forward

030with them. >> Yeah. Good. Actually, that would be the helpful uh testimony from them. Thank you. >> Thank you, Senator. >> Thank you. Uh any other questions, members? >> Uh hang on, Mike, real quick. Um >> so, Mike, >> do you have any estimates of the revenue you can generate from using the naming rights directly to the >> They vary. Um and so if it depends on kind of how you calculate that Senator Wakai was absolutely right. There was a study, I believe three years ago, that put it in that 1.2 to 1.5 range. Um there have been other studies based on other locales that put it much higher into that 7.2 7.4 range. Um um I hesitate to say that large a number and then it fall back to the 1.5 or 1.2. Um

031I guess what I would say Senator is that I have greater confidence in the previous study than I do in the current marketplace. >> Thank you. Thank you Senator. >> Any other questions? Seeing none shortly. >> Hi. Uh welcome back to decision making for uh committee on uh economic development and GVO. Um first up Senate Bill 2627 relating to tour to economic development and tourism. Um, we are going to pass this with an SD1 by requiring the HDA to submit annual reports to the procurement office detailing those sports projects, events, and activities. Um, lining out marketing um that did not go out to competitive bidding, narrowing it down to sport events only, a notification per procurement officer that provided that the agency shall report to the chief procurement office. the contract details no later than

03230 days after contract execution using the language from state procurement's testimony and discussion in today's hearing and to also include that that reporting goes back to state procurement office as well any discussion >> the date >> uh oh yeah sorry and um defecting the date to July 1st 20150 good catch uh any discussion >> that's what I live for >> uh seeing none vice chair wai for the vote chair goes I >> I vote yes senator Fukunaga >> Senator Senator Kim. >> Hi, >> Senator Favlla. >> I chair. >> Your recommendations adopted. >> Thank you. >> Oh, GVO. Same recommendation. Senate draft one. I vote yes. >> On SP 2627. Chair's recommendations pass with amendments. Chair votes I. Vice chair votes I. Senator Hashimoto. Hi. >> Senator Moriwaki. Hi. >> Senator AA. >> Excused. Measures

033adopted. Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. >> Thank you very much. I'm sorry. I I got to go back. Um >> um passing with an SD2. Sorry. Passing with SD2. Um and everything else what I said prior to I said the SD1. >> Yep. >> Okay. Um so >> I sorry SD1 early. So it should have been an SD2. Mhm. >> Um same uh recommendation just to add it as an SD2. Any discussion members? Seeing none, I'm sorry, vice chair wai for the vote again. Chair goes I. >> Anybody on EDT want to change their vote? Okay, it passes. >> Thank you. >> Government operations, same recommendation. Does anybody want to change their vote? Seeing Seeing none, the recommendation still stands adopted. >> Thank you. Sorry. Moving on to Senate Bill 2074

034relating to state facilities. Amit uh passing with an SD1 by removing references references to the convention center and naming rights due to concerns raised by the HTA and the Department of Budget and Finance relating to tax consequences, including insertion of a new conforming section in chapter 102 HRS clarifying that the chapter does not apply to concessions within the stadium facility and making necessary technical non-substantive changes and defecting the date to July 1st. 2050. Any discussion? >> Um, uh, >> does it not apply or >> does not apply >> inside of >> No, does not apply to concessions [clears throat] within the stadium. So, >> okay. Um, uh, vice chair will for the vote. Chair goes I. >> I vote yes. Senator Fukunaga. >> I. >> Senator Kim. >> Hi. >> Senator Favlla. >> Hi. >>

035Chair. Your recommendations adopted. >> Thank you. >> Government operations same recommendation. Senate draft one. I vote yes. Vice Chair votes. Senator Hashimoto. Hi, >> Senator Moryaki. >> Hi, >> Senator Aa. Excuse. The measures adopted. >> Thank you. With that, we are adjourned. Hello and welcome to the hearing with the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism. This is our 105 PM agenda. We are here for decision making on three bills. First bill up is Senate Bill 2716 relating to cooperatives. After careful discussion, um you know, while this is a good idea to um to uh look at cooperatives, uh we are going to uh defer this bill. Next up, Senate Bill 2374 relating to a blue economy. Uh, it establishes the blue economy working group to study how to develop and support marine-based economic activities

036that align with the state's decarbonization and restorative food production goals. It requires a report to the legislature. We are going to pass it with with an SD1 by defecting the date to July 1st, 20150. Uh, note A and pass Senate Bill 2374 with the same SD1 on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Members, any discussion? Seeing none, vice chair will kai for the vote. Chair goes I. >> I vote yes. Senator Fukunady. >> Senator Kim >> I. >> Senator Favlla >> I. >> Cherry recommendations adopted. >> Thank you. Short recess. Sorry members, I uh skipped over one of the bills. Uh Senate Bill 2698 relating to transportation. Um or there's been some challenges on this bill. Uh, we're going to pass this with an SD1 by taking into consideration part of the attorney general's recommendations. Questions that

037were raised by general fund contributions in section five, we will not address. We will make changes on page two, line six, deleting these words, appropriations made by legislature for deposit into the fund that will be deleted from the bill. We will also take DOT's recommended amendments. Um this bill was also passed early on uh [clears throat] in transportation with the exact same language. Members, any discussion? Seeing none, vice chair for the vote. Chair goes I. >> I vote yes. Senator Fukunaga. >> Senator Kim. >> Hi. >> Senator Favlla. >> Hi. >> Chair, your recommendations up. >> Thank you. And with that we are ajourned. Hello and welcome to the joint hearing with the Senate Committees on Economic Development, Tourism and Education. This is our 10:06 p.m. agenda. Um with us today is uh education uh

038chair and committee Senator Kim. Uh we're here for decision- making on Senate Bill 2816 relating to state enterprise zones. Never in my craziest mind would I think I would be actually making all these amendments, but uh here we go. Brace yourselves. Uh we will be passing this with an SD1 by one updating section 2 definitions in section 209E-2 HIS add the following new definition for an innovation enterprise. Innovation enterprise means an area located on property owned by the state of Hawaii that is intended to support or currently contains businesses primarily engaged in biomemed or life sciences research, clinical trials, medical technology development, pharmaceutical manufacturing, aerospace technology research and development, space domain awareness or information technology design and production services. Two, update section three, designation limits in section 209E-4, HR, add a new subsection C to

039read as follows. C. The department may declare up to two census tracks in the state that contain an innovation enterprise to be designated as an enterprise zone subject to the governor's approval. Three, adding a new section, comprehensive review. insert a new uncodified section mandating a comprehensive review of the program by the department of business and economic development and tourism. The text should read section six section 6A. The department in consultation with the department of taxation shall conduct a comprehensive review of the state enterprise zones program established under chapter 209E Hawaii Revised Statutes. B. The comprehensive review shall include one, an evaluation of the economic impact of the program, including the number of jobs created and the types of industries supported. Two, an assessment of whether existing enterprise zones continue to meet the statutory eligibility criteria

040for designation. Three, revenues generated by the participating companies by county. See, the department shall submit a report of its findings to the legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2027. The department shall do this review inhouse for renumbering the remaining sections of the bill accordingly, make any technical and non-substantive amendments and defecting the effective date to July 1st, 2050. Period. [laughter] >> Uh, any discussion? Can you repeat that again? >> You can snapshot this for recordification. >> Uh, seeing none, uh, Vice Chair Wai for the vote. Chair goes I. >> I vote yes. Senator Fukunaga. >> Senator Kim. >> I, >> Senator Favlla. >> I, >> Chair, your recommendations adopted. >> Thank you, Chair. Um, we're going to thank you for your amendments and keeping uh, the

041enterprise zones uh, whole as to the whole intent. So, I appreciate that. So the same recommendation for the committee on education to pass with a SD1 chair votes I >> members SB 2816 chair's recommendation pass with amendment chair vai vice chair's excused senator Fukunaga >> I senator I vote yes senator Dort >> I >> chair recommendations adopted >> thank you with that we are journ thank you members Hello and welcome to the joint hearing with the Senate Committee's Economic Development, Tourism, and Water, Land, Culture, and the Arts. This is our 10:02 PM agenda. We have a one minute time limit for all testifiers. Um, Chair uh, Chris Lee, Senator Lee, who's joining us along with the Waterland and Culture and Arts Committee. This agenda has six bills. Um, you know, I know we are short

042on time today. Uh, we have your testimonies. If you can stand on your testimonies, that would be super helpful. Uh, so let's get started. It's a uh first up the testifiers list we have department of agriculture and biocurity um >> dab please >> 2156imony. >> Thank you. Uh next up [clears throat] Georgia Skinner with Creative Industries DB >> Skinner Creative Industries intent. >> Thank you. Next up, Barry Shong for Department of Land and Natural Resources. >> Thank you. Next up, Lauren Yasaka. >> Oh, okay. Thank you. It's too good. You didn't zoom in in person. Um, next up, Director Tokyo from Department of Business and Economic Development. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Next up on Mary Alice Evans for office of planning and sustainable development. Mary Alice chairs and members first of

043all apologies. Second of all apology for wanting to uh explain my testimony. Um we support DE's uh intent. Uh but we offer a I think a simpler solution that is to amend uh HRS chapter 2011-14 which is the consolidated the processing uh section that's already in HRS uh and to add the oversight commission to that subsection as a new subsection rather than the entire part. And I would also say that the amendments to chapter 205 the one 4.5 which adds building as a permitted to the egg district is appropriate but the change to chapter 20-6 special use permits would subject film permits for a special use permit process that was designed for longterm substantive uses and it's intentional slow and careful that does not fit the film industry's needs at all. >> Thank you Marales.

044Your time is up. >> Thank you. Uh, next up, WA Constantino with Honolulu Film Office supporting the intent and wanted to agree wholeheartedly with the testimony. >> Thank you. Uh, next up, O. I got you two times for Coalition of County Film Offices in Hawaii. >> Yes, I take on the other hat. Um the coalition of county film offices were concerned about the time frame that the current bill uh was proposed. So again supporting the intent but it did not streamline the process and throw our support to the comments that [clears throat] >> Okay. Thank you. Uh next up Irish Barber testifying for Hawaii Film Alliance on Zoom. >> Sorry I'm driving. Um aloha chairs, vice chairs, and members of the committee. We stand on our written comments um that this needs more discussion with

045subject matter experts. Mahalo. >> Thank you. Irish, please pull over. [laughter] Angela Young. >> Aloha. Angela Melody Young Cares. um in strong favor of this legislation. And um so I think what the committee can consider is to take a peek at um all the um other policies that are effective. For example, California, Hollywood, um where farmers typically generate revenue by acting as location scouts or renting their land um to production companies. So in Hollywood, farmers and location scouts build partnerships by listing properties in professional data databases, engaging with film commissions and negotiating location agreements that turn rural a land into profitable short-term film sets. Right? So if um in Hawaii um the committee wishes to enact an effective policy then um it should ask perhaps advice from the industry that knows what it's doing. And

046so um I think it's a good starting point in coordination with the appropriate county um planning offices to >> Thank you, Angela. Your time is out. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Next up, Sydney Hos with Hawaii Food and Policy with comments. Sher Mono, Chamber of Commerce in support. Daniel Hamilton, Low with comments. Jarro Gald Galdorama support. Brian Spicer in support. Kristen Siftton in support. And [clears throat] Kristen Zazua in support. Uh, anybody else wishing to testify on this measure? Seeing none, members, any questions? Uh question for DB who who currently regulates the film production on egg. Well, it has to go through a complicated process and I would like to ask Mary Alice to also come up and assist with it because we have been faced with this many times and on Hawaii Island

047in particular which has the lion share of our agricultural lands and we think that >> um it's really important to be able to streamline. So I think there's a lot of elements in the proposed measure and I think working together with the introducers and um OPSD I think Mary Alice has a good recommendation [clears throat] on streamlining this to be able to come into the current uh film permitting process. So, so Mer you know [clears throat] who currently regulates that film production on the egg lands? I'm sure there's several >> complicated ariving process. Um [clears throat] the state film offices um facilitated film permits. Uh it is complicated. the oversight committee, especially if it's placed in the existing section for consolidated permitting, would seek to streamline that while protecting egg. I do want to ensure

048that you know we understand the state egg uh district which also has 23 uh permitted uses uh at the moment. uh that fourth 24th permitted use would be very helpful and useful uh but not the state's land use commission special use permit process which the counties also are required to conduct because that is a very careful slow intentionally slow because [clears throat] it's supposed to uh provide uh a decision-m process for things like landfills uh quaries uh you know things that are going to be there for decades and decades filming is a temporary usually very short term and it generally does not do land disturbance. Uh it, you know, is able to re mitigate and move as soon as it's done and it generates agricultural accessory income for the farmer. It can generate income for

049>> So, Mary Alex, how how expeditious will an egg agriculture film production land use oversight committee being in helping film producers obtain permits to film on agriculture lands? >> If it is given the ability to issue a special use permit just for filming on egg lands, it can be very expeditious. >> But anything else we're having to excavate on area to set up could be cumbersome. Got it. Thank you. >> Can I ask a question then further? Uh, but you still need land use commission approval because I think I thought you just said it can be expeditiously done. >> Chapter 205-6 as opposed to chapter 205-4.5, >> right? uh lays out the statutory basis for the land use commission and the county planning commissions in Aahu, the county council to or city council to conduct

050a special use permit process. I I would refer you to the Wimmonello Gulch process which has been going on for decades, >> right? uh it is not designed for filming and so I believe this is my personal view but I have done some consultation that uh a uh film oversight committee could with this legislaturator's approval be given the ability to issue special use permits in the egg district that protect agriculture protect public lands uh but also can move very quickly. >> Okay. But you're saying that it's it only applies to sitting county of Honolulu. >> No. No. 205 applies to all four counties. >> All counties. >> Oh, okay. So, there should be no problem. >> There'll always be a [laughter] We've been through it before that we've had examples of going before uh Hawaii

051County. In fact, um, regarding oh, it was about several years ago, but that was something that even the county um was trying to work in their planning department to help facilitate. I think there's a lot of positive things in this measure that we can work with to be able to help the counties because, um, as we know, they have the majority of the beautiful lands that producers want. Well, the issue is the counties were supposed to uh address [clears throat] all of their zoning requirements, but I Mary Alice, what act was that in uh changing all of the uh general plans to see fit? Um so I assume that many of the counties have not done that as well uh and probably behind. But for something like this film industry and you know the the

052intentions the legislature has always supported the film industry uh as well. So I think maybe it's about time Maris that we perhaps look at the situation finally and come up with a statute that would apply statewide then you know we won't have these issues come up independently of bills and services and I think that's the question that our chair from EDT you know is you know and I I I tend to agree with her with all the questions that are being asked as Well, but um you know it's long overdue. I'm Phil industry. I was in the hotel business for 20some years, 40 years ago, and we had industries coming into Big Island. However, but it still seems like we don't have a statute that clearly defines uh and this is an important industry for

053our state. So um okay maybe we need to look at some future like soon Mary Alice recommendation to make some changes. >> Uh senator thank you very much. Uh you have uh currently in the bill you have the uh director of the office of planning and sustainable development along with DBED DLNR uh on the oversight committee. So that uh uh as long as that stays in the bill and the bill moves forward for further discussion then I can continue to offer >> well we shouldn't be doing statutes only for certain island I mean counties you know it should be you know something that should be statutoily for the state because the industry travels throughout our state and you know we need the industry you know to help us going further but I think there's lots

054of work now Where are we on the our Hawaii state plan that could address part of this issue? >> The Hawaii state plan. Thank you, legislators. We're in our second year of uh collecting input. We're going to put all the good suggestions that it came a couple came in bills that you saw, green infrastructure uh and others uh uh into uh a uh a revised chapter that the legislature can consider. Uh we want to uh call out some of the things that have changed since the 70s when that >> Yeah. But what plan? Because we had 12 functional plants. So the changes would with regards to this issue would be under agriculture or where would you decide? >> I I put it in economic development. >> Economic develop okay I don't want to bel labor

055this because there's lots of bills before [clears throat] us but lots of work to do chair and I I don't agree with her you know the concerns that I mean the questions that are raised. >> Thank you Senator. Sorry. Um and I think this bill is great and I guess um not everybody understanding and Georgia know we know because um Hawaii Island is one of the difficult places for uh filming on egg. >> Um there's so much hoops and loops to get through. So something like this will help streamline we don't have as much because we do film in a lot of areas. But a lot of the neighbor islands for whatever reason the county would just be I guess the watcher of the gate. So something like this would really help the the film

056industry with the neighbor islands. Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you chair. Any other questions? Thank you. See none. Uh moving on to Senate Bill 3085 relating to the Hawaii film studio. Uh first up Georgia Skinner. uh see our testimony and support really helps us to build out the full package that the legislature is also proposing to help make our film industry more competitive. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next up, Lauren Yasaka for Department of [clears throat] Land and Natural Resources. >> Thank you. Next up, director uh uh business economic development in support. >> Thank you. Uh next up, Irish Barber on Zoom. Stop driving Irish before you get into an accident. >> I have you on Bluetooth. Aloha, chair, vice chairs, and uh members of the committees. Uh we stand on our written testimony

057and support and mahalo for allowing us to testify. >> I wouldn't accept her. >> Next up, Angela Young. >> Angela Melody Young in strong favor um of this legislation. So um if uh DLNR specialty is not business management and film making then it should let DBED help manage these aspects of growth in the film making industry um with no need for landboard approval for new tenants to utilize the studio. Um, but DNR can provide advice about appropriate use and inappropriate use and the impact of filmmaking activities to be conducted on DLNR properties to protect from damage um and to advise on Native Hawaiian cultural practices so that activities conducted does not physically degrade the land and infrastructure. And um so you know actually you know Barbie was not filmed on a farm although in the

058movie it looks like it's filmed on a farm. It was actually filmed in a studio in the United Kingdom. So when you have more studios you have more television shows, movies and you have thriving families and middle class people who have jobs. Um so policies should empower the filmmakers industry's voice to foster authentic representation and um to help um with storytelling to build active and >> time is up. Thank you. >> Yeah, thank you. >> Uh so we have seven other people in support of this measure. Anybody else in the room wishing to testify on this measure? Seeing none members, any questions? [clears throat] Uh quick question for DNR, please. Uh, so do you see any problems with granting this exemption so debate can streamline its use of the film studio? >> No, we don't

059often I think enter into these agreements or we have to let them. They're like kind of few and far in between and it takes burden off the staff to be honest and we're fine with the film studio doing so. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Um, moving on. Uh, Senate Bill 3169 relating to coastal resilience. Uh, >> first up, Michael King, testifying for Department of Land and Natural Resources. >> Uh, good afternoon, chairs, committee members. Um, I just want to add a little bit to the testimony. Um, or I want to parcel it out. Um, we have zero concerns with DBED taking the lead and doing the planning and coordination to respond to the erosion at Montuji Bay. Um, zero concerns. Our issues are that um we've we understand a long range plan is being developed um

060and this bill would excuse it from all environmental regulation, conservation district use permits and SMA permits as written and I we oppose that we we without even seeing the plan we don't think we can excuse it from all these permits. Um we had a robust discussion on the companion bill in the house. the um compromise reached on page six. Um line two, uh Rep. Hashim changed the word shall to the program may be exempt. Um I'd rather have that whole section deleted, but I was able to live with that compromise, so I wanted to share that with the committee. >> Thank you. Uh, next up, uh, Mary Alice Evans from Department of Planning and Sustainable Development. Chairs and members, I'm Mary Alice Evans with the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development. We support um the

061bill and uh we are uh we strongly support a regional shoreline management approach to uh these uh threatened areas. We think that headland to headland is the appropriate way to look at shoreline protections. So we're willing to support DBED on this. And thank you. >> Thank you, Mayor Alice. Next up, Noi Noilani Uh Hajins, council member in support. Yuki Mura, council member from Maui also in support. Catly Morayama on Zoom with Mukuji Stoen Mission. Go ahead. I'm Kathleen Murayyama of Paya Mukuji Sotoen Missions Administrative Forward and I want to add further emphasis to Mokuji's call for assistance and support. Um, in the past year, a computer science teacher from Maui High School and a handful of his students have been conducting drone observations and collected data on the shoreline erosion at Montuji Bay. They have

062completed three observations and after that their latest visit in January, one of the students emailed the board president and asked whether we we actually excavated the portion of the shoreline stolen um um noticeably be missing. He had to explain that the damage was all due to the wave winter waves. The scope and scale of damage is significant and the rapid progression of erosion as witnessed by the high school student can seem unbelievable but it's very real. Payamaji has spent about 10 years and close to a million dollars to implement a temporary emergency solution. We humbly offer um humbly ask we stand on our written testimony and we ask for your support of Senate Bill 3169. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh next up, Patrick Sullivan in support with Oceanet Douglas Meer uh League of Women

063Voters in Opposition. Eric Moto for Matuji Sto's admission in support. Roberto Arita testifying uh for Monte Kujo Monteuji Sto as well in support. Uh and then Cindy Freighes in opposition and Scott Warden in opposition. Anybody else wishing [clears throat] to testify on this measure? Uh seeing none, members, any questions? Uh >> Mary Alice, please. >> Senator Enoi. >> Thank you. We've had several bills this year and in most recent discussions about uh the same issue with regards to sea level rise and all the other crisis. So such as uh the issue on Maui uh I think we've deal dealt with this uh as well. So and I think we've made decisions on other bills. How does this one different from that? >> This is a a pilot project that's an opportunity as I see it

064to put our uh adaptation pathways approach which is a DLNR and OPSD and CCM approach for regional management in practice. Um our CCM staff has gone and looked at the bay. it is severely threatened uh and needs to have uh and the landowner needs help. And this is not we're not looking at a for-profit uh uh resort community. We're looking at a a cultural icon that, you know, should be uh protected. And so, uh, OPSD will help DEBID with all of the the planning, uh, uh, approach, look for federal funds, look for any sources of, uh, revenue. So, I see it as a pilot project, but I do think the concept of of regional shoreline adaptation is one that we're going to need to move forward with because we can't continue to deal with these

065on a TMK by TMK basis because the the ocean doesn't work that way. >> Well, I it's just kind of concerning because we had issues with regards to our what what was that issue on Maui Hanamok or just recently? Um anyway, um there are >> and it's been an ongoing uh plans and issues for the last two years more so with bills and we just heard one recently. I I'm just wondering, we're designating this particular bill um Montuji Bay, but what about the others that we have been dealing with on Maui for the last several years? That's just my concern. Um, [clears throat] and this is a pilot project, but then all the other ones that came before our committees has already been I mean, the issues are the same. So, I'm wondering if there's

066a conflict or how can you do a study with only one bay? I mean, I have no problem. I can see the urgency for this particular bay. So, so Senator, what we're going to try and look at as we look at this bill and then you guys had discussion yesterday with waterland. Um and I have had a discussions on how do we look at >> several of these bays to come up with a a solution to try and address not just this one >> which is why we've been talking directly with you know the different entities that have been working on. It's [clears throat] been a problem and it has been PA that has had this problem with the deterioration. Thank you. Thank you, Senator. Any any other questions? Um, seeing none, I'm going to

067turn this over to my good-looking chair from Waterland, >> but not as good-looking as the chair from economic [laughter] development. >> Um, thank you. Uh, let's move on to the next measure, which is Senate Bill 2000 relating to the Banyan Drive Community Development District, which establishes the Banyan Drive Community Development District Special Fund. Um testifying first on SB 20001 is um the mayor of Big Island. Oh, I'm sorry. HDA signed up. My >> apologies. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh, next is Department of Land and Natural Resources. [snorts] >> Thank you. Uh, up next is Office of Foreign Affairs on Zoom. >> Aloha, chairs, vice chairs, and members of the committees. I'm Charard Freighus, public policy advocate with Office of Foreign Affairs out of our Hilo office. We stand on our written testimony, and I

068will also highlight key points as provided in our comments. Much of the district consists of seated lands and OHA has long sought to ensure that the state does not alienate seated lands that it maintains seed lands to ensure corpus's viability and availability for the future looi. We appreciate and recognize the importance of the cultural specialist and also recommend the inclusion of a lineal descendant member as done in HB2616 honor this place and redevelop in a way that acknowledges the history in a more balanced restorative and responsive to community well-being. OHA recommends being included as a member of the Banyan Drive redevelopment agency and for the governor to appoint the cultural specialist and lineal descendant members after consulting with OHA and considering our recommendation. Mahalo for the opportunity to testify. >> Thank you. Uh up next

069also on Zoom VOI Lao Foundation. >> Aloha. Mahalo for having uh me testify in um opposition to SP20001. We oppose this in regards to the specifics that it's not including lineal descendants at this time. Uh we also want to recommend that including the lineal descendants on top of the authority um is essential to what the initiative was when we proposed our uh support for HB2616 and I think that needs to be very clear that lineal descendants do support 2616 which is not you know this is 201 but it's also related because now recommendations from all the same parties are going back into this bill. So, we would appreciate that you folks recognize that we would like to be a voting member, not part of an advisory group. And um I think if we can do

070this as a looi and community to recognize our voices, we would greatly appreciate that for our kuna. Mahalo. [snorts] >> Thank you. Uh signed up next is also on Zoom, James McCully. >> Thank you very much, uh Chair Lee. Uh, Chair Deco Koy. Um, I'd like to recognize Vice Chair Lorena for her longtime commitment to the improvement of Banyan Drive. I'm the chair of the Hawaii uh Banyan Drive Hawaii Redevelopment Agency, but I'm testifying today in my personal capacity. Uh, I'll stand on my testimony, but I would like to uh give a special notice to Chair Don Chang. uh aloha to her and I hope for her recovery and her department's willingness to work with uh HCDA the legislature uh to support Banyan Drive's redevelopment uh was a significant change in policy and I appreciate

071acting chair Kako's ongoing support for uh Banyan Drive's development or redevelopment in a communitydriven way. Uh thank you very much and I'm uh able to take questions should it come. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, also on Zoom, Nathan Gatis. >> Hope that >> you are. Good job. Yeah. [laughter] Yeah. Alohal. Um, I'm Nate Gatis. I'm referred to as Nate. I also serve on the Banyan Drive Hawaii Redevelopment Agency as vice chair, but I'm also here in a personal capacity. Um, I'll stand on my written testimony, but I also just want to kind of comment on that very briefly. there's, you know, some differences between the House version, uh, obviously, and the Senate version, both in govern governance and in some mechanisms, uh, and protections, but we'd like to see this move forward, uh, so

072the process can move forward and so that any tweaks can be ironed out between them. Um, you know, a lot of people put blood, sweat, and tears into this that aren't even here with us today. Um, and it's high time this uh, move forward in a positive direction. So expressing support. Thank you. >> Thank you. That's everyone who had signed up to testify on SB20001. Is there anyone else wishing to testify on this measure? >> Seeing none, are there any questions? >> Yes. Uh HCDA, uh just briefly, can you uh tell us your your new um recommendation for amendment? >> Um so good afternoon, senators. Um so I have really kind of three amendments. One has to do with kind of a simplification of the name to um YKA. Uh the other is to do

073kind of a structural change which is on you know page four lines um uh page three lines 4 to 13. It was kind of a drafting error that came down from the drafting agency. So we're suggesting that it it be removed. Um there was some uh references to the Banyan Drive Redevelopment Agency. Those should be replaced to with the Banyan Drive Hawaii Redevelopment Agency, the agency that Mr. McCully is on. And finally, I think to address uh the concerns raised, um I would suggest that um lineal and cultural descendants be on an advisory council. Now I I realize that uh it's an advisory council but I think this advisory council along with other community members will be an invaluable you know resource to the board. Um at the same time um to expand on that

074senator as you know we are undergoing a master planning effort for Waka Peninsula we had received um $1 million from the late representative Nakushima. So we're undergoing that master planning process. Uh we are going to um assemble a community advisory committee that will help us um plan do the planning and visioning for the district. I would suggest that that kind of role for cultural lineal descendants and other community members is really the heavy lift that's going to occur with the planning because they will look at uses in um the Waka Peninsula. They will look at um different land uses and once that master plan and rules are done it will become the plan for development for the agency uh for Waka Peninsula for many many years to come and that's really the heavy lift and

075where I think they can have um impactful um participation in in in the in the planning process and in what goes on uh development wise and then also c cultural resources uh for the district. So that's in a nutshell, senator, the um suggested changes we're asking for. >> Uh just a just a question uh and several concerns and it was brought up at the chambers as [clears throat] well. When you look at WA Peninsula, it's a bigger picture other than Banyan Drive. >> [clears throat] >> The concern that many in the business community and those that are interested in developing Banyan Drive is foremost. >> And so when you look at WA de Peninsula as you talk about right next door is a county. So you got the you got the the gardens, you got

076the uh coconut island that belongs to uh the county and then you have Hilo Hawaiian and the rest of the land use com land use that is under DNR. So um that's that's a big picture when you talk about the YK Peninsula. So, with that said, knowing that we're in an urgency to get Banyan Drive up and running soon, where are you with the milliondoll and the community input? What's a schedule so that we can start to move and when are you going to do the RFPs? Once we develop once we have the issue on another bill we have taking back the the golf course from the Naniloas properties. >> Okay. Uh Senator I'll just take it one step at a time. >> Okay. >> Right now um I'm focused on trying to get Banyan

077Drive or WA Peninsula established as a district. That's our first thing. Normally when we do a district like this, we would start to develop the district and then we would start the master planning process. But because the master planning money was appropriated, you know, couple a year and a half or so ago, we wanted to make sure we got to use that money before it lapsed. So, where we are in the master planning process is uh come this summer, maybe June or July, we're going to stand up that community advisory committee that I just spoke about that's going to have representation from cultural lineal descendants, from other people in the community that's going to help us shape the vision for the peninsula. Then later in the summer, we're going to hold um a community visioning

078exercise where uh we're going to uh our consultants are going to present all the data that they've learned about utilities for the district, the possible infrastructure that's needed, um other kinds of information and then have the community kind of present their vision for the district. So that's where we are uh senator in a very nut in a nutshell. And I always like to talk about what is the end result. The end result is we're going to come up with a community master plan that hopefully I say hopefully reflects the vision and the voices of the community in that they have in Waka Peninsula. And the reason for the name Wakia is um it's place name for that whole area and it's not just Banyan Drive because Banning Jar is just one part of it but

079it's that whole peninsula including Coconut Island and which is which is integral to the area. So thank you Senator. >> It it's just a concern that that we have because several things that hopefully doesn't interfere with what's planning because we [clears throat] have several bills. Number one, take the golf course back within the Banyan Drive. We're asking for $15 million to de demolish the country club on Banyan Drive. And just just a matter of where we are today and hopefully there's no stall as you already heard some some from some members of the chamber that was just recently said to move this along. But it it it's just a concern we have. But that's it for now. M madam chair and Mr. Chair. Yeah. Thank you, Senator Favlla. >> Okay. So, my my question is

080about the the new descendants and the cultural why would it be an issue. We have them on the board. Again, this is another reason why again a lot of our people have issues. Government want to sured the whole issue and say, "Hey, child, we're going to make you advisory board." These guys have deep roots generation of that area. Been left out for generation. And you heard the other guy said that's on the board. Oh, planning people, right? You just said about the other person that was there a long time try to plan this. Again, excluding the main people that have vested interest. I'm not talking about moneywise. I'm talking about cultural wise. Every time we put the money before culture, that's a that's an issue I have. And the whole issue about trying to cut

081everything up and do everything like that, putting the the cart before the horse, that that is not acceptable. So I don't know where you feel where you feel because you saying these amendments where you feel that it's okay to serpent seed the Hawaiian people >> by making them on advisory board. >> You see what I'm saying? I continue to do that especially on that island. >> So you I know you know the people that is involved. You know their lineage. You know their heritage. You know the whole thing about their family being relocated and moved out of the area because of development. and all they wanted was a seat at the table and then you tell them no that's okay we're not going to do the house bill we're going to make you guys an

082advisory board because you know you get penny say but they don't have a vote >> senator you know I don't think this uh this the wa peninsula is all about money I think the primary focus um when >> I didn't say you just say in the overview >> okay sorry uh so I think I'm not trying to put the cart before the horse when I talk about the planning coming first. It was just because the we had the money appropriated to us and I needed to start doing that planning right away and then now the bill is coming work its way through the legislature. So we just needed to do the planning a little bit ahead of the establishment of district just because of the money the funds that we have available right now. I

083didn't want to lose it is what I'm saying. >> Yeah. So no I'm not talking about you in general. So I know you in the seat but I'm just speaking when I'm trying to explain that my whole issue is not about all the other stuff. My issue is again government is telling the people you can be on advisory board because you going to say everything but at the end of the day the board still going to vote yes or no in the advisoring from the kind the the community. So if the community tell you they don't want to rebuild that hotel that we breaking down. We don't want it there. We want it to be access to the beach. We want to have a usage for the community. You guys would be good with that?

084No. Is you guys going to build a hotel and we'll spend money to break down one hotel that the other person that even give nothing back. We're going to bring that buck on them down have somebody come in another commercial person who come in. What is the safety zone for our community and our community members? Senator Favlla, you know, uh, with respect to Country Club and the demolition of that hotel, that's really far from what it the [clears throat] plan envisions or at least some initial plans. We're actually thinking that country uh, country club and next door to it is the Uncle Billy's lot parcel that was recently destroyed. There's other hotels around there or former condominium hotels that around that area. We were actually envisioning that area to be open space and park space

085uh in addition to other uses but park space because one of the things that is going to happen with sea level rise is pl certain places on that peninsula are going to be subject to more sea level rise than others and it could be some of the parks like Lilio Colani Gardens. So to make up for sea level rise and not I know not everybody believes in sea level rise but it's a reality. So I think for Uncle Billy's for uh country club where we there's a bill to uh demolish it. Actually the vision is to do some kind of open space and some kind of park that can also serve as a buffer for sea level rise uh for that district. So I don't think anything has been set in stone in the planning.

086That's what I want the community master planning to bring forward from people. Senator, >> thank you. I'll just note um just for the clock um should the measure move forward um we'll get to see it again in the ways and means committee have further questions. >> Thank you, senators. >> Anyone else? >> All right, seeing none, thank you everyone. Let's move on to the next measure, SB2599 relating to development, which redesates the Stadium Development District as the Halava Community Development District um and makes uh related amendments. And first up on 2599 is HCDA >> stand. Thank you. Uh up next is Stadium Authority. Thank you, Chair, and thank you, Chair Decoy, as well. Um Mikey Dao from the stadium authority. This and the measure afterward, um we stand on our written comments or we stand

087on our written testimony and support. We welcome the opportunity to codify and to strengthen our relationship with HCDA. We would like to note however for both this and the bill afterward that there are some issues in that the stadium authority has sole jurisdiction currently over the entire development of the 98.5 acres. That has to that that has to change should this relationship move forward in this manner. And also um we do believe very strongly that we currently have a relationship with the city administration that we can move forward on infrastructure permitting um that we have the things in place necessary to get a vibrant community and a vibrant district in the upcoming years and that this HCDA model would serve as a backup um to that that we can move forward as currently constituted. Thank

088you. >> Thank you. That's everyone who testified on this measure. Is there anyone else? Aloha, Angela Melody Young testifying on behalf of CARES um in strong favor of this legislation. So I don't know about the competing interests to manage Aloha Stadium District, but I can provide a proposed amendment. Um so which is that the committee um the committees should consider a work group to invite University of Hawaii invite the county's office of DPP who is experienced in transit oriented development zones and can assist with um the planning because the Oahu general plan already anticipates University of Hawaii and the train um and that's you know a development zone within um the Aloha Stadium district and so the counties can also provide clarification about um the complex transit oriented development zoning standards. And so, you know,

089making minor major adjustments in the powers of these authorities are central to the new Aloha Stadium Entertainment District project. and to streamline the complex process from a single state-run stadium to a co-management of a 98 acre um mixeduse community with the initiation of the demolition and the dismantling of the original stadium to be completed by mid 2026. It's a lot. So, the committee should anticipate working with the counties. Thank you. >> Is there anyone else wishing to testify on this measure? Seeing none, other questions? Seeing none. All right, let's move on to the next measure. Um, SB2604 relating to the stadium development district which appropriates funds uh for the planning design development of the stadium district by HCDA contingent upon stadium authority submitting a report that includes various documentation. Uh, testifying first is HCDA. >>

090Um, good afternoon. Stand on written testimony comments. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh, up next on Zoom is the attorney general. >> Not on Zoom. Chair, >> uh, in person. >> Good afternoon, Deputy Attorney General Kevin Tong with comments. Uh, we have concerns that certain provisions of this bill conflicts with the stadium authority soul jurisdiction as uh, raised by Mike Yadal. Uh, we recommended certain um, amendments or changes in our written testimony depending on the intent of the legislature. I'm available for questions. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh, finally, Stadium Authority again. >> Thank you, Charlie. Thank you, Senator D. Mike Dal, Law Stadium Authority [clears throat] Executive Director. Um, I don't want to sound like a broken record, but but essentially it's similar to the previous and that we welcome the opportunity to work

091with HCDA. However, we believe that as currently constituted, um, the CDM authority has sole jurisdiction over the 98.5 acres and that as currently constituted, we can move forward. But again, we welcome ACDA involvement and we welcome the opportunity to move forward as a partnership. Thank you. >> Thank you. That's everyone who had signed up to testify. Is there anyone else on SB2604? >> Seeing none, are there any questions? >> Quick question, Mike. So um you know my with this bill and the form and the prior bill we just heard um your outreach within community and other partners say [clears throat] uh and so for that has been engaged with correct? >> Yes sir. >> Okay. Now I just wanted to make sure that that has occurred. Um you know we have people that testify and

092sometimes try to kind of read the bill too far into it. I want them to be reassured that these partners have been involved from the beginning. My other question is that um involvement within the county um and I believe the mayor had said that the do you have full support on behalf of the mayor and the county? >> Um first to your previous question absolutely senator the community can be assured that all stakeholders have been engaged. Um for instance at our recent stadium um authority district office blessing and the dismantling or the beginning of dismantling of the current stadium um all stakeholders and parties were invited and participated including the University of Hawaii who played a prominent role and who is a big part of our development moving forward. Um on your questions with the

093county um senator you heard from the mayor himself. Um the mayor has been on record and has said privately that he is in full support and the current administration and several members of the council um have also indicated their full support and expediting permitting and helping us to move forward in infrastructure spending. And I also want to make note that um our current agreements have all infrastructure being dedicatable to the city. We want to ensure that this is a plug-and-play so that anything that we develop we can inc we can get city support and be dedicatable so that they take care of the sewage and the water and the things of that nature. We don't want to take on that responsibility as a state state agency. >> Thank you senator. >> Sorry I'm sorry about

094that. Thank you so much. >> Not away. I was running away [laughter] senator and you caught >> almost no thank you sir. question. Since you've been in contact with the county and it sounds like they've been very cooperative, were you able to get uh any of the sewer capacity um information that we've been asking leadership prior to yourself? >> Absolutely, Senator. So, so this is where we are with that information. We have received emails and verbal indication of where we need to be on housing capacity. Um keeping it in that 4,500 number, the 4,500 number. We have now submitted formalized letters to both the board of water supply and ENV so that we can get a formalized report back that justifies that number. Um and both have been responsive thus far and intend on getting

095it to us as soon as possible. Um I would like to kind of draw the underline that all consultants um whether it was RLC co or others have indicated that given the demands that the stadium itself will have the mixeduse retail and the potential other developments have that the housing number is pretty firm in that 45 4,500 housing units. >> Okay. So you basically have a kind of unofficial rough number. We have an unofficial rough number, but we are codifying that with official responses from ENV and the Board [clears throat] of Water Supply. >> Okay. Thank you. And then uh one more question, please. Uh the bill um specifies that uh funding will not be released until the stadium authority has a project readiness uh plan. How long do you think that that's going to

096take for you guys to do? Because there's no deadline on the bill or no time frame on the bill. So, I guess it comes down to you guys on when you guys have the plan, then we move to the next step. How long is that going to take you guys? >> So, so the the way that I can answer this, Senator, and and please forgive me. Um, I'm going to I'm going to dance around just a little bit, so forgive me in advance. Um, all construction projects have multiple contracts that govern them, um, there's no one contract that governs it all. Um, on the stadium site, we've had five or four, depending on how you count the last two. Um, two of them were the stadium specific and those have already been settled and executed

097as of September of last year. Recently, as of the day of the blessing itself, we reached a tenative agreement on the master development agreement, which is a tenative on the development that surrounds the stadium. What will be there? How will it be there? Who pays what? Um, the reason it's tentative is because the lawyers are finalizing the language. We literally reached that agreement that morning of the blessing. And then lastly, it's going to be the ground lease or infrastructure type on the rest of the development and that's what we're currently negotiating. We expect to finish that by mid-March. Um therefore, we are we feel that we are progressing in a manner in which we do not need this kind of involvement from HCDA. That being said, we welcome it as a backup should we lose

098support or should another administration feel differently about our project or should any other thing happen that we need to keep moving. Um, so I guess to answer your question is we expect to be done with our contracts very shortly that will allow us to move as full partners with Aloha with AHDP. >> Yeah. and I understand your push back a little bit with having oversight from HCDA and DAGs. Um, however, and you're kind of you're you're the new guy coming in, but prior to you, there were leadership that was kind of sitting on things. So, I think that if we can assure the legislature that all people are working together, uh, accountability is at the forefront. Making sure that things move along will help to get you the funds sooner rather than later. And my

099last point that I'll make is that right now the funds appropriate for $48 millionish dollars. >> 49.5 >> 49 49. >> I got to be specific because I need it. [laughter] >> Uh and and you know the reason why we want to expedite the readiness um proposal is it because if it the longer it goes the more money that's going to be needed. So I just wanted to mention that but uh thank you very much Mike. Thank you chair. >> No thank you so much Sure. >> Other questions? Seeing none. All right. Did someone want to ask the director a question? Follow after. Okay. Um, yeah. Take a quick recess. Uh we are uh EDT and waterland is uh decision making on today's agenda. First up SB 2156 relating to land use. uh recommendation is

100to pass with an SD1 by incorporating the amendments recommended by DBED and the recommendations from OSPD making any necessary technical and non-substantive changes and defecting the effective date to July 1st, 2015. Members, any questions? Uh I mean discussion sorry uh vice chair Kai for the vote. Chair goes I >> I vote yes. Senator, >> Senator Dimin, >> hi. >> Senator Favlla, >> hi. >> Chair, your recommendations adopted. >> Thank you. The committee on waterland. Same recommendation. >> Chair's recommendation of the committee on waterland culture and the arts on SB 2156 is to pass with amendments. Chair Lee. >> Hi. >> Vice chair goes I senator Chang. >> Hi. >> Senator Lamosa. >> Hi. >> And Sen Senator Dort. >> Hi. >> Measure is adopted. Mr. Chair. >> Thank you. Next up Senate Bill 3085 relating

101to Hawaii film studio. We are going to pass this with an SD1 by defecting the effective date to July 1st, 2050. Any discussion members? Seeing none, vice chair kai for the vote. Chair goes I >> noting the presence of all members. Any opposition or reservation to the chair's recommendation? Seeing heard none chair recommendations adopt. >> Thank you. Committee on water land. Same recommendation. >> Okay. Chair's recommendation on SB3085 to pass with amendments with five members present. Any voting with reservations? Any no votes? Measure is adopted. Mr. Chair, >> Thank you. Next up, Senate Bill 3169. Um I have been uh in conversation with uh Chair Lee in regards to coastal coastal resilience um for not just Mukuji which I have been a huge support of the Montuji Bay and preservation of that area due to

102uh land degradation um and erosion. Um we are going to look at incorporating this along with Senate Bill 2401 that will help u move this project along faster. um that uh my esteemed chair has been working on full faith in him to help us move this forward. So in this case, I will be deferring Senate Bill 3169. >> Thank you. And I'll just add um thanks to the chair. Um as we know, we've had several shoreline erosion bills over the last week or so. Um all doing different things. So, we're trying to consolidate and and create a a pathway that uh won't let this project or um uh other things fall off. Uh so, one I'll just say um I've never been there, but it is clearly one of the most dire situations I think

103um throughout the state. So, I want to make sure that we can do it right and um that uh conversation will continue. >> So, with that, uh Senate Bill 3169 is deferred. So we move on to SB 20001 relating to Bion Drive Community Development District. Um like to um uh similarly uh recommend I'll just note we have three um bills all relating to HCD on this uh agenda um as well as some others we've considered. Uh we'd like to move these on, but I'll just note um we are now just a few hours away from the deadline to file bills. And so, um, I know on this measure in particular, there were some comments from the community about changes and some of the others, um, that we're not going to have time to incorporate right

104now in this particular moment, but we'll note those for the next committee. And rest assured, we'll work with the stakeholders um, and community and others to make sure that um, this is done right. Um, so what we're going to do is uh, actually combine these measures together um, into the next bill. Uh so for the moment we'll be deferring SB20001. Uh so we'll go to SB 2599 relating to development. This is the first uh stadium HCDA uh bill. Um so this measure we'd like to move forward and use as the vehicle for the other measures um here. So, we'll incorporate well recommendations to to uh move this forward with amendments incorporating the contents of SB20001, which is the banyan drive measure we just spoke about. Um, as well as the contents of SB2604, which is

105the next measure on the agenda. Um, and the contents of SB 3327, which this committee previously heard and passed out um, uh, few days ago. Um, and then just add in tech amendments and a defective date. And I'll note um you know there are amendments and tweaks I think that some of the testifiers have rightly uh raised on some of these measures. Um so as we move forward uh between now and the next committee hearing we're going to work with the stakeholders to iron those out since we don't have time to actually dive into the substance and draft those amendments um by the deadline when we have to file in just a few hours. So appreciate um everyone's um uh time today and rest assured we will continue the conversation. So any comments or questions?

106If not, vice chair. >> Okay. For the committee on water, land. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> Thank you, chair. Is it okay if I Yes. >> So um chair, thank you for um your work on um this bill. Uh I will be declaring a conflict for um for this measure. um because my husband is an engineer for one of the um the contractors for the Aloha Stadium and I would ask that I be recused from voting from this measure time. Thank you. >> So noted and um we'll do that. Any other discussion? See none. >> Okay. For the committee on water, land, culture, and the arts, chair's recommendation on SB2599 to pass with amendments. Chair Lee >> I. >> Okay. Vice Chair goes I senator Chang >> I. >> Okay. Senate Senator Decort. >> Hi.

107>> Okay. And just to note um Senator Alama is excused. >> Measure is adopted. Mr. Chair >> committee on economic development tourism same recommendation. Vice Chair Kai for the vote. Chair goes I >> chair. I know you guys are going to make the amendment but I never hear the what I had asked if that's going to be actually into the committee notes. um on the lineal descendant. >> Oh yes. Um sorry my apologies. Right. We we talked about that. Yes. For um the uh Banyan Drive bill uh per I think the discussion you had raised senator um we'll note that in the committee report. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you chair. >> Okay. Take two committee on economic development. Chair delay. >> I [clears throat] >> I vote yes. Senator Fukunaga. >> Senator Kim. >>

108Hi. >> Senator Favlla. >> Yeah. With these changes, I'll move voting with reservations. >> Chair, your recommendations adopted. >> Thank you. Thank you members. With that, we are ajourned.