STAND. COM. REP. NO.  75-22

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2022

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2229

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 2229 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COASTAL EROSION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to require the University of Hawaii to establish and implement a two-year program to study the impact of sandbag walls, often referred to as "sand burritos", on sand movement patterns and coastal erosion at Ehukai Beach Park on the North Shore of Oahu.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from two individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Budget and Finance, and University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program.

 

     Your Committee finds that beach and shoreline erosion has been a persistent and increasing problem for the Hawaiian Islands and is particularly acute in certain sections of the North Shore of Oahu.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Deleting the temporary moratorium on the use of sandbag walls, or "sand burritos", by homeowners;

 

     (2)  Expanding the scope of the University of Hawaii's study to include the impact of sandbag walls, or "sand burritos", on public trust resources, including beach access, coastal water quality, and recreation;

 

     (3)  Clarifying the geographical reach of the University of Hawaii's study;

 

     (4)  Requiring the University of Hawaii to submit its report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2025;

 

     (5)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (6)  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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2229, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2229, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Higher Education & Technology.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair