Bill > SR73

This resolution requests the Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC), a state entity established in 1994 to support agricultural enterprises, to assume responsibility for maintaining and repairing the Kohala Ditch, a 26-mile long irrigation system on Hawaii's Big Island that provides over five million gallons of water daily to farmers and ranchers. Following a 2021 rockslide that damaged a critical flume and disrupted water supply, causing significant economic hardship for local agricultural producers, the resolution urges the ADC to develop a comprehensive maintenance plan that includes regular inspections, repairs, and collaboration with community stakeholders. The resolution further requests that the ADC submit an annual report to the Legislature detailing maintenance activities, expenditures, the ditch's current condition, and recommendations for improvements, with the ultimate goal of supporting local agricultural production, food resiliency, and the economic sustainability of farming communities in North Kohala. The resolution notes that Act 164 from the 2023 legislative session allocated $10 million for ditch repairs, but funding has not been released due to compliance issues.

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https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SR&billnumber=73&year=2025