STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1954

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 29

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 Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 29, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO STUDY POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR SUNSET MEMORIAL PARK,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to study potential solutions for the legal and physical situation at Sunset Memorial Park and make recommendations for a long-term management plan.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Your Committee finds that Sunset Memorial Park in Pearl City, Oahu, has been neglected for years and has been the subject of numerous complaints by individuals who have family members buried there. The company that owns Sunset Memorial Park involuntarily dissolved in 2006, and the company's owner passed away in 2011, leaving the property in legal limbo. Since the passing of the property's owner, maintenance of Sunset Memorial Park has relied solely on volunteers to clean up and care for the cemetery. In response, the Legislature enacted Act 193, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018 (Act 193) to limit liability for volunteers maintaining or repairing cemetery grounds. Act 193 also required the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, in consultation with the Department of Accounting and General Services, to develop short-term and long-term strategies for the upkeep, repair, and maintenance of Sunset Memorial Park. Although much work has been done to survey and map Sunset Memorial Park, almost five years have passed since the enactment of Act 193, and a long-term plan or solution regarding Sunset Memorial Park is still not in place. This measure is a step towards helping the community to secure real and long-term solutions for the maintenance of Sunset Memorial Park.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 29, H.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection,

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JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair