STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1137

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2021

 

RE:   H.C.R. No. 30

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 30 entitled:

 

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE TO PROPOSE A COMMUNITY-BASED STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM FOR POLIHALE STATE PARK ON THE ISLAND OF KAUAI,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish a task force to propose a community-based stewardship program to address capacity, access, fishing, surfing, and vehicle use for Polihale State Park on Kauai.

 

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

 

     Your Committee finds that Polihale State Park, which contains  sensitive cultural and natural resources, has suffered from management deficiencies as well as unlawful and damaging behavior by some park users.  Your Committee finds that community discussions with the Department of Land and Natural Resources that have been initiated to discuss the proper stewardship of Polihale State Park should continue, with the hope of addressing various issues through a community-based planning effort.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing its title to read: "REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO ESTABLISH A COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR POLIHALE STATE PARK ON THE ISLAND OF KAUAI.";

 

     (2)  Stating that:

 

          (A)  COVID-19 public health concerns were one of the reasons that prompted the Department of Land and Natural Resources to shut down public access to the park in the summer of 2020;

 

          (B)  Some users of Polihale State Park have a history of noncompliance with Hawaii Administrative Rules for the Hawaii State Park System, including driving on the beach; and

 

          (C)  The State Parks Division has initiated discussions with groups interested in creating a stewardship agreement with the Division to help the Division manage resources and educate the public regarding Polihale State Park;

 

     (3)  Requesting the Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish a community advisory committee, rather than a task force, to engage in a community-based planning effort to address the various issues identified in this measure, including resource protection, capacity, access, fishing, surfing, and vehicle use for Polihale State Park on Kauai, and to achieve compliance with the Department of Land and Natural Resources' rules;

 

     (4)  Adjusting the membership of the community advisory committee;

 

     (5)  Requesting the Department of Land and Natural Resources to share its findings with area legislators in the interest of developing potential enabling legislation to implement any actions identified by the community advisory committee;

 

     (6)  Adding the Governor and Mayor of the County of Kauai as recipients to whom certified copies of this measure will be transmitted; and

 

     (7)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 30, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 30, H.D. 1.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair