HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1656

THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 1

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO TRAILS.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the Hawaii statewide trail and access program, known as Nā Ala Hele, was established in 1988 in response to public concern about the loss of public access to certain trails and the threat to historic trails from development pressure.  Nā Ala Hele addresses trail management and regulatory issues across the State.  The legislature notes that according to the Hawai‘i state comprehensive outdoor recreation plan 2015 update, there are two areas regarding public hiking identified for improvement:

     (1)  Demand for more trails or access to mauka lands; and

     (2)  The need for trail facilities and maintenance.

     The legislature further finds that Hawaii county faces a particularly acute deficit of trails and public land access.  There are currently only three legal hiking trails for non-hunters in west Hawaii, as compared to forty-one on Oahu, thirty-five on Kauai, and nineteen on Maui.  Many of the most popular trails in Hawaii county, listed in guidebooks and increasingly publicized on social media, involve trespassing across private property.  Statewide, in these areas lacking public access to trails, the public often resorts to trespassing across private lands.  This practice poses challenges to public access, safety, and landowner liability.

     The purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Adequately address the Nā Ala Hele program's needs regarding the protection and expansion of public trail access statewide by appropriating funds for the establishment of a permanent full-time equivalent land and access specialist position and a permanent full-time equivalent abstractor position; and

     (2)  Make an appropriation to the department of land and natural resources' operating fund for trail management and maintenance.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent land and access specialist IV position for the Na Ala Hele program.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent abstractor X position for the Na Ala Hele program.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 to address trail maintenance and management.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2022.

 

 

Report Title:

Trails; Access; Na Ala Hele Program; Positions; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds for the establishment of a permanent full-time equivalent land and access specialist position and a permanent full-time equivalent abstractor position within the Na Ala Hele program for the protection and expansion of public trail access statewide.  Makes an appropriation to the Department of Land and Natural Resources' operating funds for trail management and maintenance.  (SD1)

 

 

 

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