HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

123

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

REquesting the department of transportation to study the feasibility of, and provide cost estimates for, the installation of an access road on the southern end of Kawaihae harbor to increase access to the small boat harbor and beach area, and for other harbor improvements.

 

 

WHEREAS, Hawaii's geographical location requires that nearly all imported goods arrive via island ports, including Kawaihae Harbor, which plays a vital role in goods from around the state being transported to the Island of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, Kawaihae Harbor is a port located approximately 28 miles north of Kona Airport and is one of two commercial deep-draft harbors currently serving the Island of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, Kawaihae Harbor has played an important role in Hawaii's maritime history, being visited by Captain George Vancouver in 1792, at which time the first cattle in Hawaii were presented to King Kamehameha, serving as a whaling port in 1845, maintaining a lighthouse and first rail system on the island in 1859, and serving as a supply port for the export of cattle from the Territory of Hawaii in the 1930s; and

WHEREAS, in response to the increasing population and economic forces affecting the western portion of the Island of Hawaii, the Kawaihae Harbor Project was authorized by the Federal Government in 1950, was completed in 1962 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and consisted of a breakwater and basin; and

WHEREAS, as the importance of Kawaihae Harbor grew, other harbor improvements were made to accommodate interisland and overseas shipments of supplies and direct barge service; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Army owns and operates a landing area of approximately 10 acres of land in the southwestern corner of the basin; and

WHEREAS, the south end of Kawaihae Harbor also contains a small boat harbor and other public recreational facilities used by the general public and community groups such as the YMCA, surf clubs, boat clubs, canoe clubs, and Kano'o Ka'aina Charter School, among others; and

WHEREAS, access to this area of Kawaihae Harbor has been restricted during weekdays because of increased harbor security, with the main entrance being monitored by a guard on Saturdays and Sundays and the second entrance being entirely closed to the general public; and

WHEREAS, this restricted access has prevented the public from accessing the shoreline and public recreational facilities during the week; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, that the Department of Transportation (DOT) is requested to study the feasibility of developing an access road on the southern end of Kawaihae Harbor to provide access to boating facilities and beachfronts in the area; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DOT also study the feasibility of erecting a fence to separate the commercial side of Kawaihae Harbor from recreational and public activities and making any other improvements as necessary; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in conducting this study, DOT work with the local community to determine the best location for erecting the fence; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DOT submit a report to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular session of 2005, that contains cost estimates for:

(1) Surveying the southern end of Kawaihae Harbor;

(2) Erecting a fence to separate the commercial side of Kawaihae Harbor from recreational and public activities;

(3) Developing and constructing a public access road on the southern end of Kawaihae Harbor; and

(4) Making any other necessary improvements to facilitate these projects;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Transportation.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Requesting the Department of Transportation to study the feasibility of and provide cost estimates for the installation of an access road on the southern end of Kawaihae harbor to increase access to the small boat harbor and beach area and for other harbor improvements.