HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

14

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO KEKAHA KAI STATE PARK.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that lifeguards act as the primary responders for emergencies on shorelines and within near shore waters, where the majority of ocean recreation activity takes place.  Lifeguards also provide injury control and dispatch ocean rescue services.  However, the legislature also finds that although Kua Bay, Kekaha Kai State Park (Kua Bay) in North Kona on the island of Hawaii is under the jurisdiction of the department of land and natural resources, the State currently does not employ its own lifeguards at the bay.

     The legislature further finds that the location of Kua Bay between Kona and the resorts of Kohala Coast and improvements, such as a paved road and comfort station, to Kekaha Kai State Park have led to an increase in visits by locals and visitors to popular Kua Bay.  This increase in visitors has been accompanied by an increase in dangerous incidents, injuries, and deaths.  The legislature further finds that the injury prevention and control division of the department of health and the ocean safety division of the county of Hawaii fire department have reported that from 2008 to December 14, 2016, there were three fatal drownings, three near-drownings, ten spinal cord injuries, one cardiac arrest, one shark sighting, various other serious and minor injuries, and numerous distressed swimmers.  A vast array of West Hawaii islanders have voiced strong concerns regarding the alarming number of reported and unreported incidents.

     The purpose of this Act is to save lives and prevent injury at Kua Bay by appropriating funds for the employment of lifeguards and for necessary equipment.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2017-2018 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 for the department of land and natural resources to hire and provide benefits for four full-time equivalent lifeguards (4.00 FTE) at Kua Bay, Kekaha Kai State Park on the island of Hawaii.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2017-2018 and $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 for the department of land and natural resources to purchase equipment to be used by state lifeguards in the course of their work at Kua Bay, Kekaha Kai State Park on the island of Hawaii; provided that the sum appropriated for fiscal year 2017-2018 shall be expended as follows:

     (1)  $         for one lifeguard tower;

     (2)  $         for one all-terrain vehicle;

     (3)  $         for radios;

     (4)  $         for rescue equipment; and

     (5)  $         for protective equipment;

provided further that the sum appropriated for fiscal year 2018-2019 shall be expended on protective equipment.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2030.



 

Report Title:

Kua Bay; Kekaha Kai State Park; Lifeguards; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds for the employment of lifeguards and for necessary equipment to be used by state lifeguards in their work at Kua Bay, Kekaha Kai State Park in North Kona on the island of Hawaii.  (HB14 HD1)

 

 

 

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