THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

108

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE RACETRACK OR RACE WAY PARK ON OAHU AND REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM, AND THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO FACILITATE AND APPROVE ITS DEVELOPMENT.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that auto racing has a rich history in the State, with drag racing on the island of Oahu dating back to the early 1950's; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii Raceway Park provided motor sports enthusiasts a legal venue to race from 1962 until its closure in 2006; and

 

     WHEREAS, in the past thirty years, the State and City and County of Honolulu, through the use of state and county CIP funds, have subsidized and supported the development of recreational facilities such as multi-purpose gymnasiums, arena venues, skateboard parks, swimming pools, a commercial driver's license training area, soccer fields, basketball courts, shooting ranges, archery ranges, baseball fields, football fields, a football stadium, tennis courts, dog parks, volleyball courts, beach volleyball courts, botanical gardens, and golf driving ranges and courses; and

 

     WHEREAS, for the past forty years, county parks programs from the County of Hawaii, County of Maui, and County of Kauai have provided the public state and county supported raceway park facilities at closed air field land granted by the military to the respective county parks departments for public recreational use by motorsports fans as raceway parks; and

 

     WHEREAS, through the use of such granted lands, the public has at least one raceway park or racetrack to provide drivers a legal and controlled alternative to racing on public streets and highways; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Honolulu City Council unanimously approved resolution 18-73, which finds the need for an Oahu raceway park or racetrack is urgent, longstanding, and a matter of public safety, and directs the City Administration to take certain actions to facilitate development of a racetrack or raceway park on Oahu, including but not limited to by determining whether there are city-owned properties that may be a suitable site; and

 

     WHEREAS, no alternative site for a racetrack or raceway park has been identified on Oahu since the closure of Hawaii Raceway Park in 2006; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2019, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Legislature urges the Parks and Recreation Department of the City and County of Honolulu to enter into a public-private partnership with a credible, well-vetted, non-profit organization in good business standing, with a verifiable history of positive community benefit and service to develop a proposal for the design, financing, construction, and operation of a racetrack facility; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Public Safety and Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism are requested to facilitate and approve the development of a motor vehicle racetrack or raceway park; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Public Safety; the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and the Mayor, Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Council of the City and County of Honolulu.

Report Title: 

Motor Vehicles; Racetrack; Oahu