STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1780

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.C.R. No. 62

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. 62 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO RESTORE THE FIELD OF MAUNAWILI VALLEY NEIGHBORHOOD PARK AND DEVELOP A PLAN TO RESTORE THE ENTIRE PARK,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Parks and Recreation of the City and County of Honolulu to restore the field of Maunawili Valley Neighborhood Park and develop a plan to restore the entire Park to be usable and safe for the community.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from four individuals.

Your Committee finds that various environmental changes, including the encroachment of invasive grass, have left Maunawili Valley Neighborhood Park's field unsuitable to safely host sports events and activities, and the entire park area needs to be restored in order to enable residents and visitors to safely recreate there. Your Committee acknowledges that area residents have recently described over half of the field as "an overgrown swamp". Through this measure, your Committee seeks the assistance of the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Parks and Recreation to restore the field and overall Park to a usable condition and provide the public with a place they can enjoy.

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. 62 and recommends its adoption.

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

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LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair