STAND. COM. REP. NO. 570

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1136

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. 1136 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE PARKS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to conduct a study of the carrying capacity of Makena State Park in the County of Maui; and

(2) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui, Kihei Community Association, and Maui Tomorrow Foundation. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that that Makena State Park is a unique community resource not only for south Maui but for all the people of the island. As with other state beach parks, the increase in tourism volume has resulted in an excess of visitor traffic to Makena State Park, necessitating further investment in this iconic area.

Your Committee further finds that when increased tourism volume created a strain at Haena and Waianapanapa state parks, a carrying capacity study was conducted and a tourism management plan was put into place. The plan allowed for the generation of additional revenue from the increased traffic and ensured that residents' public access to these important community assets would be preserved. Therefore, this measure requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to conduct a study of the carrying capacity of Makena State Park in the County of Maui.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

(2) 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. 1136, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1136, 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,

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair