STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1443

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.B. No. 416

H.D. 2

S.D. 2

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water, Land, and Agriculture and Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 416, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE WAIANAE COAST,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish an ocean recreation management area (ORMA) from the western end of the Honolulu International Airport's reef runway to Kaena point and to adopt administrative rules.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and four individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure.

Increased usage of beach parks and state boating facilities to accommodate commercial ocean recreation activities on the leeward coast has had a significant impact on traditional fishing activities, as well as other non-commercial activities. Thus, your Committees find that the ocean waters in this area should be designated by the DLNR as an ORMA to reduce user conflicts, maintain overall public safety, and regulate commercial activities.

This measure:

(1) Establishes an ORMA between the western end of the Honolulu International Airport's reef runway and Kaena point;

(2) Places a moratorium on issuing new commercial vessel permits in state small boat harbors involving ocean-related activities between the western end of the Honolulu International Airport's reef runway and Kaena point until the boundaries of the ORMA are established and administrative rules are adopted; and

(3) Provides requirements and procedures for draft ocean recreational management area rules.

Your Committees have amended this measure by limiting the location of the ORMA to the Waianae coast, specifically between Kalaeloa point to Kaena point.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water, Land, and Agriculture and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 416, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 416, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water, Land, and Agriculture and Ways and Means,

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BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair

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RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN, Chair