STAND. COM. REP. NO. 361

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     S.B. No. 1254

        S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 1254 entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to designate the Kaiwi Coast Scenic Shoreline and adjacent lands as the Kaiwi Coast State Park and establish positions within the Department of Land and Natural Resources to support proper land and parks management along the Kaiwi coast.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Livable Hawaii Kai Hui, Ka Iwi Coalition, Sierra Club of Hawaii, Surfrider Foundation Hawaii Region, Friends of Hanauma Bay, Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition, Hawaii Bicycling League, Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii, and five individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that the lands of the Kaiwi coast are an invaluable natural asset for the people of Hawaii.  However, your Committee finds that a growing interest in this area has brought a rapid increase in visitors, which has led to increased traffic and accidents and also the gradual deterioration of the environment and surrounding areas.  Your Committee finds that collaboration between community organizations and government agencies is necessary to ensure safety, manage human impacts, prevent invasive species, and restore the local ecosystem along the Kaiwi coast.  Therefore, this measure designates the Kaiwi Coast Scenic Shoreline and adjacent lands as the Kaiwi Coast State Park and establishes positions within the Department of Land and Natural Resources to support proper land and parks management at the Kaiwi coast.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Revising "Kaiwi coast master plans" to "Kaiwi state scenic shoreline master plans" for clarity;

 

     (2)  Requiring staff of the Department of Transportation to be included as part of the planning and design process of the Kaiwi Coast State Park and Maunalua-Makapuu Scenic Byway improvement projects;

 

     (3)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1254, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1254, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair