STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1144

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1394

H.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 H.B. No. 1394, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources for operating costs and personnel to support the management of certain trailheads as part of the Na Ala Hele Hawaii Trail and Access System program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, and nine individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority.

Your Committee finds that the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority developed destination management plans for each county, which identified certain "hot spots" that are popular with visitors. Notably, these hot spots are often challenged with overcrowding, congestion, and the degradation of resources due to heavy traffic. Your Committee further finds that many of these hot spots are trailheads that are part of the Na Ala Hele Hawaii Trail and Access System program operated by the Division of Forestry and Wildlife of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Your Committee finds that funding for personnel and resources would help support management activities on trailheads such as the Kokee region of Kauai; Maunawili Falls and Kaiwa Ridge Trails on Oahu; multiple areas on Maui; Naha Trail on Lanai; and Pololu Valley, Waipio Valley, and Mauna Kea on Hawaii island. Therefore, this measure appropriates funds to help provide residents and visitors with a positive, enjoyable, and memorable experience while hiking Hawaii's most popular trails.

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 H.B. No. 1394, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair