THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

75

THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF PLANNING TO CONVENE AN INTERDISCIPLINARY TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP A FRAMEWORK FOR A SEA LEVEL ADAPTATION AND RESILIENCE PLAN FOR THE WAIKIKI DISTRICT.

 

 


     WHEREAS, Hawaii is experiencing the impacts of climate change, including the effects of sea level rise and coastal erosion, which is of particular concern to the State given our island topography and substantial coastal exposure; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Senate of the Twenty-Ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, 2017, created the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission ("Climate Commission"), which published the Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report detailing findings and recommendations for mitigating and adapting to sea-level rise; and

 

     WHEREAS, the City and County of Honolulu established the Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency ("OCCSR") by City Charter in 2016, to promote community resilience and, among other recommended actions, to preserve natural shorelines and beaches as buffers to protect coastal communities; and

 

     WHEREAS, the OCCSR is tasked with tracking climate change science and potential impacts on Oahu's facilities and communities, coordinating actions and policies of the county's departments to increase community preparedness and resilience, supporting resilient infrastructure in response to the impacts of climate change, and integrating sustainable and environmental values into Oahu plans, programs, and policies, in part, through the City's resilience strategy; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Waikiki Special Improvement District is a low elevation, high-density, urban coastal community that is home to approximately thirty thousand residents.  Prior to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, Waikiki hosted approximately five million tourists annually and generated about thirty percent of the gross domestic product of the State.  The condition of this district is vitally important for its residents, visitors, public and private property, and for the economic well-being of the entire State; and

 

     WHEREAS, research has shown that inundation and flooding of Waikiki related to climate change will occur from multiple sources:  storm drain backflow, groundwater inundation, wave run-up and marine hydrostatic (passive) flooding, heavy precipitation, and watershed flooding associated with extreme weather events; and

 

     WHEREAS, the City and County of Honolulu established the Waikiki Beach Special Improvement District Association in 2015 to improve the coordination and management of the beach systems in Waikiki, and the Association has been engaged in comprehensive adaptation planning and actively managing Waikiki's beach systems for resilience to projected climate change impacts, including sea-level rise; and

 

     WHEREAS, Waikiki like so many of the other resort communities in the State, is in a sea level rise exposure area and requires a comprehensive adaptation and resilience plan to deal with projected climate change and sea-level rise; and

 

     WHEREAS, Waikiki can serve as a pilot and demonstration project for other coastal communities that may develop a comprehensive sea-level rise adaptation and community resilience plan for the protection of its residents, visitors, critical infrastructure, and public and private property; and

 

     WHEREAS, the purpose of the Office of Planning's Coastal Zone Management Program is to preserve, protect, and develop the coastal lands for the benefit of the residents of Hawaii, which includes ensuring that Hawaii's tourism industry remains a healthy economic industry.  The Office of Planning also has the expertise to effectively coordinate the diverse public and private stakeholders in preparing a Waikiki resilience plan; and

 

     WHEREAS, it is in the best interest not only of the Waikiki Special District but, other coastal communities, the City and County of Honolulu, and the State of Hawaii to support a Waikiki task force to proactively create a framework for a sea-level rise mitigation and adaptation plan for the Waikiki community; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-First Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2020, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Office of Planning is requested to convene an interdisciplinary task force to develop a framework for a comprehensive sea level adaptation and resilience plan for the Waikiki Special District; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to include the following members or their designees:

 

     (1)  Director of Planning, who is requested to serve as the chairperson of the task force;

 

     (2)  President of the Senate;

 

     (3)  Speaker of the House of Representatives;

 

     (4)  A representative of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office for Coastal Management;

 

     (5)  Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources;

 

     (6)  State Sustainability Coordinator;

 

     (7)  Chief Engineer of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Engineering Division;

 

     (8)  Administrator of the Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands;

 

     (9)  President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Tourism Authority;

 

    (10)  Director of the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Programs;

 

    (11)  Director of the University of Hawaii Community Design Center;

 

    (12)  Director of the City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting;

 

    (13)  Executive Director of the City and County of Honolulu Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resilience;

 

    (14)  Councilmember of the Honolulu City Council representing Waikiki;

 

    (15)  President of the Waikiki Beach Special Improvement District Association;

 

    (16)  Chairperson of the Waikiki Neighborhood Board;

 

    (17)  Executive Director of the Land Use Research Foundation;

 

    (18)  President of the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association;

 

    (19)  President of Save Our Surf; and

 

    (20)  Executive Committee Chairperson of the Surfrider Foundation, Oahu Chapter; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force may invite additional organizations or agencies to participate in the task force; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of Planning is requested to provide administrative support for the task force; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2023; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office for Coastal Management; Director of Planning; Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources; State Sustainability Coordinator; Chief Engineer of the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Engineering Division; Administrator of the Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands; President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Tourism Authority; Director of the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program; Director of the University of Hawaii Community Design Center; Director of the City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting; Executive Director of the City and County of Honolulu Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resilience; Chairperson of the Honolulu City Council; President of the Waikiki Beach Special Improvement District Association; Chairperson of the Waikiki Neighborhood Board; President of the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association; Executive Director of the Land Use Research Foundation; President of Save Our Surf; and Chairperson of the Surfrider Oahu Executive Committee.

Report Title: 

Interdisciplinary Task Force; Sea Level Adaptation Resilience Plan; Waikiki District