THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

108

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

requesting state departments to acknowledge, support, and accept the city and county's master plan for redevelopment of the pearl harbor historic trail.

 

WHEREAS, the Pearl Harbor Historic Trail is an inter-community project supported by the City and County of Honolulu as a means of attracting new, locally owned businesses into the economically disadvantaged communities along the Pearl harbor shoreline, the Ewa plain, and the Waianae Coast; and

WHEREAS, the Pearl Harbor Historic Trail uses the right-of-way (ROW) for the Oahu Rail & Line train as a potential eco-tourism attraction through development of a multi-use pedestrian/bike path alongside an operating historical train operated by the Hawaiian Railway Society; and

WHEREAS, the ROW is designed to provide culturally and environmentally sensitive access to wetlands and wildlife preserves, native Hawaiian culture sites, historic and educational sites as well as recreational facilities and parks; and

WHEREAS, the ROW is part of the Leeward Bike Path, which the State is obligated to develop as part of a land swap with the U.S. Navy; and

WHEREAS, the City and County of Honolulu has developed, and are in the process of adopting, a comprehensive, award-winning Master Plan for the Historic Trail, which provides a ready framework for the State; and

WHEREAS, a non-profit organization, the Friends of Pearl harbor Historic Trail, is also active in the community, providing a conduit for partnerships with local community groups and other non-profits; and

WHEREAS, acceptance of the Pearl Harbor Historic Trail concept and plan eliminates redundant planning and offers opportunities for partnerships at the federal, state, and city levels as well as synergies with efforts to develop sustainable tourism, new visitor attractions and livable communities for Hawaii residents; and

WHEREAS, beginning with the USS Arizona Memorial/USS Missouri/USS Bowfin attraction cluster, the path/train is designed to travel along the ROW through the communities of Aiea, Pearl City, and Waipahu, stopping at historic sites, transit depots, and cultural attractions; and

WHEREAS, this portion of the Trail, which is controlled by the City and County of Honolulu, is envisioned as an urban trail, similar to the San Antonio Riverwalk, with shops, restaurants, and mixed residential areas; and

WHEREAS, the State-controlled portion of the Trail, which runs adjacent to the Leeward Bike Path, travels through Waipahu, West Loch, Ewa, Ko Olina Resort, and up the Waianae Coast to Nanakuli, where the ROW terminates; and

WHEREAS, the Trail and train have potential to support native Hawaiian economic enterprises along the ROW, with smaller footprint infrastructure requirements than buses and automobiles; and

WHEREAS, the Trail and train provide ecologically sensitive access to wetlands and wilderness attractions like Pouhala marsh and the National Wildlife Refuge at Honouliuli and Pearl Harbor; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, the House of Representatives concurring, that the legislature expresses its support for the Pearl Harbor Historic Trail as a lynchpin for sustainable economic redevelopment of the Pearl Harbor shoreline, Ewa plain, and the Leeward/Waianae Coast; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Departments of Land and Natural Resources, Transportation, and Business, Economic Development and Tourism are requested to accept the City and County's Master Plan for the Historic Trail; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Departments of Land and Natural Resources, Transportation, and Business, Economic Development and Tourism are requested to support the further development for the ROW, the Leeward Bike Path, and the Historic Trail; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to directors of the Departments of Transportation, Land and Natural Resources, Business, Economic Development and Tourism, the Governor, and the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Pearl Harbor Historic Trail; support and recognition