HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	83
TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002
STATE OF HAWAII

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HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING THE BOARD OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO MEET WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS AND USERS OF KEEHI LAGOON TO DEVELOP A CONCEPTUAL MASTER PLAN WITH FOCUS ON PRODUCTIVE USE OF UNUTILIZED LANDS AND REQUESTING THE BOARD OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO LEASE UNUTILIZED FAST AND SUBMERGED LANDS SUBJECT TO LEGISLATIVE DISAPPROVAL.

 

 

WHEREAS, in 1990, the final environmental impact statement for the Keehi Lagoon Recreation Plan, which included a significant increase in the number of needed recreational and commercial berths, was completed by the Department of Transportation and accepted by the Governor; and

WHEREAS, the development objectives for Keehi Lagoon included the use of private sector funds to implement the recommendations of the updated Keehi Lagoon Recreation Plan by leasing unimproved areas to a private developer and the generation of revenues to the State by the lease; and

WHEREAS, the State can expect a continued increase in demand for quality moorage space in both public small boat harbors and private marinas throughout the State; and

WHEREAS, although the State has continued to encourage development of marina facilities by the private sector to help meet the demand for berthing space over the last twenty years, only Ko Olina Marina has been completed and placed in operation, due to denial of permit applications or prolonged delays in obtaining necessary permits, litigation, and loss of capital financing; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Land and Natural Resources is actively exploring alternative means of improving and redeveloping state boating facilities without reliance on State resources, including participation by the private sector; and

WHEREAS, boating funds are and will continue to be insufficient to meet the increasing backlog, and general funds are not available or may not be an appropriate expenditure for this purpose; and

WHEREAS, private companies continue to express an interest in managing or developing Keehi Lagoon and, in the absence of state funds, may be the only means to effect development of this valuable, underutilized resource; now therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, the Senate concurring, that the Board of Land and Natural Resources is requested to meet with all stakeholders and users of Keehi Lagoon, including canoe-paddling clubs, to review and update the 1990 Keehi Recreational Plan and, in particular, to discuss the feasibility and means by which unutilized areas of Keehi Lagoon may be productively used; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Land and Natural Resources is requested to lease unutilized fast and submerged lands (excluding those areas within the State's Keehi Small Boat Harbor or used by canoe paddlers) subject to legislative disapproval; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is requested to consider transferring lands in or around Keehi Lagoon from the Department of Transportation to the Department of Land and Natural Resources should such fast and submerged lands be utilized for small boat/ocean recreation purposes; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Director of Transportation, and to the Chairperson of Board of Land and Natural Resources, who in turn is requested to transmit copies to all listed lessees and users of Keehi Lagoon.

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

BLNR; Keehi Lagoon; Submerged Lands; Develop Master Plan