STAND. COM. REP. NO. 435

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 1394

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1394 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the operations and personnel of the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Forestry and Wildlife to manage hotspots at trailheads as part of the Na Ala Hele Trail and Access Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Sierra Club Hawai‘i Island Group, The Trust for Public Land, Asbestos Analytical & Consultants, and twelve individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Tourism Authority and its subcontractors have developed destination management plans for each county. These destination management plans identify hot spots that attract visitors due to their popularity, sometimes resulting in overcrowding, congestion, degradation of resources, safety hazards, and a negative experience for residents and visitors.

Your Committee further finds that many hotspots are trailheads leading to hiking trails of Na Ala Hele, the State's trail and access program, which is maintained by the Division of Forestry and Wildlife of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Your Committee recognizes that the Department of Land and Natural Resources needs additional funds for personnel and resources to manage the hotspots at trailheads and provide a positive experience for residents and visitors who use the trails.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriations to unspecified amounts;

(2) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $1,385,044, to be used as follows:

(1) $30,000 for office, safety, and field supplies;

(2) $200,000 for four four-wheel drive vehicles;

(3) $800,000 for planning consultant contracts;

(4) $68,556 for the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent planner V position on Oahu;

(5) $182,736 for the establishment of three full-time equivalent (3.0 FTE) permanent specialist IV positions; provided that one position each shall be assigned to Maui, Oahu, and Kauai;

(6) $42,840 for the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent technician position on Kauai; and

(7) $60,912 for the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent abstractor position on Oahu.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1394, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1394, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair