STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1776

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.C.R. No. 21

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.C.R. No. 21 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO REMOVE THE OCEAN SAFETY AND LIFEGUARD SERVICES DIVISION FROM THE EMERGENCY SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND ESTABLISH IT AS A NEW, SEPARATE DEPARTMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the City and County of Honolulu to remove the Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services Division from the Emergency Services Department and establish it as a new, separate department.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation, Ocean Safety ‘Ohana, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services Division is the primary responder for emergencies arising on the beach and in the nearshore waters of Oahu, which extend one mile from the shoreline, and is one of four divisions or branches that comprise the Honolulu Emergency Services Department. Your Committee further finds that increased levels of ocean activities have challenged the Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services Division to maintain service levels and that the Division's growing responsibilities and scope of duties warrant its establishment as a separate department.

Your Committee has amended this measure by also urging the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu and Honolulu City Council to work together to establish the new department pursuant to section 4-202 of the Revised Charter of the City and County of Honolulu.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 21, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 21, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair