THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

127

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO UPDATE THE HAWAII COMMERCIAL HARBORS 2020 MASTER PLAN AND ESTABLISH A CENTRALIZED STATEWIDE CARGO AND PASSENGER SHIP ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE SCHEDULING SYSTEM TO COORDINATE AND IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF SHIP MOVEMENTS AMONG THE HARBORS OF THE STATE; AND REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF PLANNING TO CONDUCT A comprehensive study of current and anticipated harbor uses on Oahu to improve harbor efficiency and effectiveness.

 

WHEREAS, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has jurisdiction over Hawaii's commercial harbors pursuant to section 266-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), which provides in part that the DOT has control and management responsibility for commercial harbor and waterfront improvements; and

WHEREAS, in 1995, the DOT prepared an Hawaii Commercial Harbors 2020 Master Plan, designed to improve and update the State's harbor system with a focus primarily on Honolulu Harbor to meet the anticipated growth and demand over the ensuing twenty-five years; and

WHEREAS, the master plan encompasses every state harbor and includes plans and recommendations for overseas container cargo terminals, inter-island cargo terminals, berths, roadways, passenger terminals, navigational improvements, dry bulk cargo terminals, liquid bulk cargo terminals, commercial fishing, military cargo, ocean research, and other relevant matters; and

WHEREAS, the biggest challenges facing Hawaii's shipping industry is the need to enhance efficiencies to maximize the State's limited harbor facilities and space, with a finite amount of space and facilities working beyond capacity; and

WHEREAS, without expansion and improvement of Hawaii's harbors, particularly Honolulu Harbor, the State's shipping industry will suffer and decline; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii imports about eighty percent of its food and merchandise, with about eighty-five percent of that volume, including building materials, cars, and fuel shipped by sea; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii's shipping industry is effectively the State's life-sustaining enterprise; and

WHEREAS, among the major new developments demanding attention are the Hawaii Superferry, increased security arising from the events of 9/11, and the initiation of a new cargo shipping line; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Commercial Harbors 2020 Master Plan should be updated to accommodate new demands being placed on commercial harbors in Honolulu and on each Neighbor Island; and

WHEREAS, the mission of the Department of Transportation is to provide and effectively manage a commercial harbor system that facilitates the efficient movement of people and goods to, from and between the Hawaiian Islands, and enhances and preserves economic prosperity and quality of life; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii's economic sustainability is dependent upon the effectiveness and efficiency of the harbor system, as well as the availability of sufficient cargo and container facilities; and

WHEREAS, harbors on Oahu are extremely busy, and the DOT must accommodate harbor uses for not only cargo activity, but also commercial activity, cruise ships, and potential ferry service as well; and

WHEREAS, these new and competing uses for maritime space have created a cargo space crisis in Honolulu Harbor, which is exacerbated by the fact that prior planning studies did not anticipate harbor uses at these current levels; and

WHEREAS, for example, the State has been working on implementing a community development plan to maximize economic and social values at two very busy piers, Pier 1 and Pier 2, in the Kakaako area; and

WHEREAS, currently, Pier 1 and Pier 2 are both under the jurisdiction of the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA), and recent suggestions have indicated that both piers should be transferred to the DOT's jurisdiction to address the cargo space crisis; and

WHEREAS, however, opposing views suggest that the transfer will not resolve the cargo space crisis, and will also compromise the State's ability to implement its Kakaako community development plan; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes the importance of both the cargo space crisis and the community development plan, and recommends that a comprehensive study for all maritime areas on Oahu, including fast and submerged lands, as well as the timely implementation of the plan, is necessary to address the cargo space crisis without jeopardizing the community development plan; and

WHEREAS, the harbors at Honolulu, Nawiliwili, Lahaina, Kahului, Kona, and Hilo each act as a port facility for passenger cruise ships as well as for cargo ships; and

WHEREAS, the State's only international cargo shipping terminal, on Oahu at Pier 1, handled more than fifteen thousand containers in 2004 and could reach its capacity by the end of 2005; and

WHEREAS, the adjacent Pier 2 has been targeted for a $30,000,000 upgrade to handle the growing number of cruise ships plying the waters of the State that require dock facilities; and

WHEREAS, the State recognizes that there will always be a dual demand in the foreseeable future for cargo as well as passenger port facilities at all of the State's harbors; and

WHEREAS, however, each state harbor currently handles its own ship movement scheduling and there is no centralized system coordinating ship departures and arrivals statewide; and

WHEREAS, with current technology and minimal staffing, it is certainly possible for such a statewide system to be established and operated in order to facilitate and coordinate the increasing demands on the use of harbor facilities by both cargo and passenger ships; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, that the Department of Transportation is requested to establish a centralized statewide cargo and passenger ship arrival and departure scheduling system to coordinate and improve the efficiency of ship movements among the harbors of the State; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is requested to:

(1) Update the Hawaii Commercial Harbors 2020 Master Plan and to include coverage of all relevant issues, including the proposed Superferry, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Pasha Hawaii Transport Lines, use of harbors by local canoe clubs, Maui Trailer Boat Club, various proposed commuter ferries, and other interested parties; and

(2) Make recommendations for improving harbor efficiency and effectiveness including new container shipping technologies that reduce land-based cargo space requirements, cargo fees, and tariff rates; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is requested to submit a progress report to the Legislature on its efforts to update the Hawaii Commercial Harbors 2020 Master Plan no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2006; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of Planning is requested to conduct a comprehensive study of current and anticipated harbor uses on Oahu by developing recommendations for improving harbor efficiency and effectiveness, including the optimum use of Piers 1 and 2, while maintaining options for non-cargo uses in urban Oahu; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the comprehensive study shall evaluate:

(1) Potential cargo space shortages at Honolulu Harbor;

(2) Increased demand for cargo space;

(3) New container shipping technologies that reduce cargo space requirements;

(4) Cargo fees and tariffs rates as an incentive for efficient cargo handling;

(5) Possible relocation of appropriate harbor uses to other harbors, such as Barbers Point Deep Draft Harbor and Pearl Harbor;

(6) Possible ferry service implications;

(7) Cruise ship terminal and berthing requirements; and

(8) Existing and future neighbor island harbor needs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of Planning is requested to report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2006; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Director of Transportation, Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Director of Planning, and the Executive Director of Hawaii Community Development Authority.

Report Title:

Harbors Master Plan Update; DOT Divisions Audit; Harbors Efficiency